His impressive batting in the debut T20I series versus England has won Suryakumar Yadav a call-up for the upcoming ODI series. The India ODI squad for the three-match series versus England set to begin on 23 March has been announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The team led by Virat Kohli will include new faces in the form of Krunal Pandya, Prasidh Krishna and Suryakumar Yadav. The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune will host all three matches of the series.
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Krishna, Krunal Rewarded for Good Show in Vijay Hazare Trophy
The selection committee headed by Chetan Sharma, India’s former paceman, have made surprising inclusions in Pandya, Krishna and Yadav. India who lost their last two ODI series away against Australia and New Zealand would want to correct the record in home conditions. India have won and lost two each of the four ODIs played in Pune. The selectors appear to have rewarded Krunal and Krishna, following their good showing in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament. Yadav’s inclusion will not come as a surprise to anyone, after his brilliant performances in the recently concluded T20I series versus England. Krishna grabbed 14 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to attract the attention of the selectors, while Pandya scored two tons and two fifties in five games while representing Baroda at the same competition.
Pant, Bhuvneshwar, Sundar Back in ODI Action
Wicket-keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant returns to the India ODI squad, as does paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Washington Sundar, who last played an ODI in December 2017, will also be back in action in the 50-over format. Bhuvneshwar, who last represented India in an ODI in August 2019, has found a place in the squad on the back of his good showing in the recent T20I series. Bhuvneshwar will lead the India attack, in the absence of the recently married Jasprit Bumrah and the injured Md Shami. Left-arm paceman T Natarajan, who has returned from injury, finds favour after his impressive performance in Australia. Md Siraj, who has had an impressive run in Test matches against Australia and England, is also in the squad for the ODI matches that will be played behind closed doors.
Pressure on Dhawan to Perform
Ishan Kishan who has not been picked probably lost out because the squad already has two keepers in Rahul and Pant. Rahul who opens the innings in T20Is will probably feature lower down the order allowing India to open with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Pant who will keep wickets will also bat in the middle order. With the likes of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul vying for an opening spot, there will be pressure on Dhawan to justify his inclusion with good performances in every game.
Jadeja Yet to Return to Match Fitness
Mayank Agarwal, Navdeep Saini and Manish Pandey who were on the Australia tour are notable omissions from the India squad. Another exclusion is Ravindra Jadeja, who is yet to recover from the injury he picked up on the tour of Australia.