INDvsNZ: Hardik Pandya fails in fitness test, this player can get chance in Test team

INDvsNZ: Hardik Pandya fails in fitness test, this player can get chance in Test team

India Tour of New Zealand 2020: There is not much hope of a reshuffle in India's limited-overs squad for the upcoming six-week tour of New Zealand, with Team India's star all-rounder all-rounder Hardik Pandya failing in the fitness test. The Indian team will play five T20 Internationals, three ODIs and two Test matches starting January 24. The team for this tour will be selected on Sunday (January 12).

Hardik, who was out of the four months due to a back injury, could not get the fitness needed to join the team. This suggests they will take longer to recover from surgery. In New Zealand, the Indian team will play eight matches of limited overs and it will be interesting to see if the selectors will choose the 16 or 17-member squad instead of 15. If the tour of India A team is also taking place along with the senior team tour, then the selectors will have the option to include the players immediately if needed.

These players can get chance at number 3 in Test team

The Test team looks fairly balanced, with only the third opener to be considered. Young Shubman Gill, who was selected as a reserve for the home series, deserves the third opener, but Lokesh Rahul's current form and his experience in Test cricket can be considered.

There are many options for bowling

The selectors will also consider whether the third spinner (Kuldeep Yadav) will be required for the two-match Test series instead of the fifth fast bowler (Navdeep Saini) to join Jaspreet Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. Other players do not have any fitness related problems.

With the T20 World Cup to be played this year, the main focus of the selectors will be on the selection of players important for white ball cricket. The selection of the players of the T20 team playing in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka is certain. It will also be interesting to see if the ODI team and T20 team will be the same.

There can be some changes in ODI and T20 team
The weakest link in the ODI team is Kedar Jadhav who despite pressure has retained his place in the 50-over team. Jadhav's technical flaws may come to light in New Zealand and he may be dropped from the team in view of not playing much overs in recent times. Ajinkya Rahane may make a comeback if the team sees an aspect of technical strength, but if it does not, looking at Mumbai's Suryakumar Yadav's aggressive batting could be seen as a fifth or sixth place option.
Both Surya and Sanju Samson are included in the A team.
   
India vs New Zealand Series Schedule

India vs New Zealand 5 match T20 Series
January 24 - First T-20 - Eden Park, Auckland (12.30 PM Indian time)
26 January - Second T-20 - Eden Park, Auckland (12.30 PM Indian time)
January 29 - Third T-20 - Sedan Park, Hamilton (12.30 PM Indian time)
January 31 - Fourth T20 - Westpac Stadium, Wellington (12.30 PM Indian time)
02 February - 5th T-20-Bay Oval, Mount Monguid (12.30 PM Indian time)

India vs New Zealand 3 match ODI series
05 February - First ODI - Sedan Park, Hamilton (07.30 AM Indian time)
08 February - Second ODI - Eden Park, Auckland (07.30 AM Indian Time)
February 11 - Third ODI - Bay Oval, Mount Monguid (07.30 AM Indian time)

India vs New Zealand 2 match Test Series
14 February - 16 February - New Zealand XI vs India - Three Day Practice Match - Sedan Park, Hamilton (03.30 AM Indian Time)
21 February - 25 February - First Test Match - Basin Reserve, Wellington (04.00 AM Indian Time)
29 February - 04 March - Second Test Match - Hegel Oval, Christchurch (04.00 AM Indian Time)