Hardik Pandya Dropped From India A Squad After Failing Test, Replacement Named
The selectors’ decision to include Hardik Pandya in the India A squad for the tour of New Zealand without asking him to prove his fitness test in Ranji Trophy has backfired badly as the allrounder has failed the mandatory fitness test. As a result, he has been dropped from the India A squad. He was a part of the team for the one-day games against New Zealand A.
With Hardik Pandya now out of the India A side, he is also unlikely to make it to the squad for the senior team’s series in New Zealand. Starting January 24, India will be playing five T20 Internationals, three ODIs and two Test matches. All the three squads for the challenging tour of New Zealand will be picked on Sunday.
Hardik Pandya was expected to make the Indian squad on the back of playing for India A. The allrounder has been on the sidelines for more than four months with a back injury. He last played for India during the T20I series against South Africa at home. He also had to undergo a surgery on the problematic back in the UK and thus missed the series against South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies and Sri Lanka.
And it looks like the allrounder is unlikely to return to action any time soon. Before departing for New Zealand, India will also play a three-match ODI series at home against Australia, starting on January 14. India, nonetheless, will play eight white ball games in New Zealand and it will be interesting to see if the selectors pick a 16 or 17-member squad, instead of 15.
With Pandya now out of contention, India now look set to name the same T20 side that played against Sri Lanka. Addition of Rohit Sharma is the only likely change although a batsman could be dropped. For the ODI side, there are question marks over the place of Kedar Jadhav and Suryakumar Yadav could earn his maiden call-up.
Replacement named:
Tamil Nadu captain Vijay Shankar has been drafted into the India A team to replace Hardik Pandya. Vijay Shankar has not played for India since the World Cup where he was ruled out of the tournament midway due to an injury. The allrounder has not been in good form in domestic circuit and will be looking to make the chance count.
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