Dhoni returns to India T20I team for Australia and New Zealand series

Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni

India on Monday announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming one-day series against Australia and New Zealand as it tries out candidates for the World Cup next year.
Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retained his place in the squad despite a disappointing year which saw him average 25 from 13 innings in 50-over games.
Dhoni, 37, was also picked in India's T20 squad for the series in New Zealand starting in February. The wicketkeeper-batsman had been dropped for India's recent T20s against the West Indies and Australia.
Meanwhile, experienced Dinesh Karthik has pipped young Rishabh Pant for the spot of second wicketkeeper-batsman.
The 21-year-old Pant was the backup to former captain and regular stumper Dhoni during India's home five-match series against West Indies.
Pant played three of the five matches as a specialist batsman and scored 17 and 24 in the second and third ODIs. Karthik, 33, has played 86 ODIs and was part of India's Asia Cup squad but was left out for the West Indies matches.
"After returning from Australia post the test series, Rishabh Pant will play for India A in the five-match one-day series at home against England Lions," the Indian cricket board said in their statement while announcing the squad.
Karthik was inconsistent and could not convert starts into big scores at the Asia Cup and finished with a total of 146 in six matches, missing the opportunity to secure the number four spot India have been looking to fill ahead of the 50-over World Cup next year.
But Karthik could well have sealed the spot with captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri confirming recently that India's period of experimenting with their ODI side is over with five months left before the World Cup in England.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya makes a comeback in the ODI and T20I squads after a three-month injury layoff.
India will play three ODIs against Australia followed by a five-match series against New Zealand.
The 50-over World Cup will be played in England from May 30-July 14. 

India squads