
Mumbai: Skipper Virat Kohli got no immediate break, while rookie pacer Mohammed Siraj and prolific batsman Shreyas Iyer made their way into a 16-strong Indian T20 squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, starting November 1.
Despite speculation, Kohli was not rested from the New
Zealand series and was also picked for the first two Tests
against Sri Lanka, starting November 16. The matches against
the islanders are to be held in Kolkata and Nagpur.
However, chairman of selectors MSK Prasad indicated that
a "rotation policy will be applicable" for the captain as
well.
It is expected that Kohli will be rested for the final
Test and the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, which is
slated in December as he would be required fresh and re-
energised before the tough tour of South Africa.
"With regards to Virat Kohli, there were some
speculations that he is going to be rested for the whole of
Sri Lankan series, it is not right. As far as the Test series
is concerned, he is going to play and at some point of time,
the rotation policy that we are following will apply to the
captain," Prasad made it clear during a media conference.
Prasad said Kohli's workload is being monitored.
"We are also monitoring his workload. He has been playing
continuously right from IPL till today, we need to give him a
break which we will consider after the Test series," he added.
There are no surprises in the Test squad with Abhinav
Mukund making way for a fit-again first-choice opener Murali
Vijay. Vijay did not take part in the last Test series against
Sri Lanka due to a hand injury and some other fitness related
issues.
Predictably, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja made
a comeback in the longer version with Kuldeep Yadav being the
third specialist spinner in the 16-member squad.
Senior speedsters Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Ishant
Sharma are back in the mix for the five-day format along with
Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha.
In the T20 squad, the 23-year-old Siraj, who first came
into prominence for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has been rewarded for
his impressive performances for India A during a recent tour
of South Africa and matches against New Zealand.
The 22-year-old Iyer has been a consistent performer for
his home state Mumbai and India A during the past one year.
He scored a double hundred earlier this year in a warm-up
game against Australia along with a match-winning hundred
against South Africa A in the summit clash of an away tri-
series.
His call-up is on expected lines as he has had some good
knocks for the Delhi Daredevils in the 2016 edition of the
Indian Premier League.
"Shreyas Iyer has been prolific in all forms of the game,
be it Tests, ODIs or T20s or IPL -- name anything, he is
performing. If we pick a player, we will give him an extended
run and we will continue with him for some point and nurture
him and see that he goes on to become successful.
"With Siraj, he is doing well and has been duly
rewarded," said Prasad.
Ashish Nehra, who will retire after the first T20 game
against New Zealand on November 1, has been picked for only
that game scheduled in his home ground of Delhi.
Prasad made it clear that the 38-year-old's inclusion in
the playing XI will be the team management's decision.
"Whether he (Nehra) is going to play or not, is clearly
the decision of the team management. There are no assurances
from our side (selectors), whether he is going to play or not.
It will purely be decided by the team management."
However, Prasad made it clear that there has been clear
communication with Nehra with regards to how they are looking
at the future.
"There are lot of apprehensions going on about Ashish
Nehra. I will make it very clear and candid -- we have clearly
communicated to the player, that is Ashish Nehra and the team
management, that we are only looking at him till the New
Zealand series," he said.
The other reason is the 'A' team bowlers, who are
supposed to be the supply line for the senior team, need to be
blooded at the top level.
"If you see the pattern with which we have selected India
A players, the same bowlers have been continuing for the past
one and half years in all the A tours. That means they are
very much in line (for selection), and they have really done
well in South Africa (A tour) and also at home against New
Zealand."
Prasad said that Nehra has been told about selectors'
logic.
Team for T20I series against New Zealand: Virat Kohli
(Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (Vice-Captain), KL
Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni
(WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep
Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra,
Mohammed Siraj.
Team for first two Test matches of the 3-match series
against Sri Lanka: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul, Murali
Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane
(Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin,
Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami,
Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.