India to pick New Zealand ODI squad within days as Shedge pushes for debut

India’s ODI squad decision is expected within days

India will select its squad for the five-match ODI series in New Zealand in the next two or three days, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told the Times of India on Wednesday.

The ODI series is scheduled to begin in Auckland on November 4, with the fifth match set for Tauranga on November 15. India’s two-Test series against New Zealand begins in Wellington on November 19, a tight schedule that could lead the selectors to name a split squad so some regulars can prepare for the red-ball assignment.

Shedge emerges as a contender

Mumbai seam-bowling all-rounder Suryansh Shedge is among the players in contention for a maiden ODI call-up after impressing in the recently completed List A series against Australia A in Puducherry. The 23-year-old returned from a hamstring injury and, standing in for the injured Hardik Pandya, contributed with both bat and ball. He took four wickets and scored 66 in the final match, which his side won.

Pandya’s prolonged absence from competitive cricket and uncertainty over the form of another seam-bowling all-round option, Nitish Kumar Reddy, could improve Shedge’s prospects. Shedge is expected to join Mumbai for its next Ranji Trophy fixture, against Himachal, beginning October 18 in Bilaspur.

Fitness checks and other selection business

Fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana are expected to undergo Return to Play tests at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on October 24 or 26. The report says the selectors are likely to announce the Test squad after those assessments.

The Pragyan Ojha-led selection committee has already chosen India’s squad for the five-match T20I series, which starts October 22. Ojha also met captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir in Hyderabad on Wednesday, in what was described as their first meeting since the BCCI asked Ojha to take over as interim chairman of the national selection committee.

Separately, the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, interviewed candidates by video call on Tuesday for positions on the junior selection committee.