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

Former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni

New Delhi - MS Dhoni was dropped for India's recent T20s against the West Indies and Australia.

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By AFP/Reuters

Published: Mon 24 Dec 2018, 9:44 PM

Last updated: Mon 24 Dec 2018, 11:48 PM

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

ODI team for Australia and New Zealand: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami.
T20I team for New Zealand: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed. 

Fixtures

Australia ODI series
January 12:1st ODI (Sydney)
January 15: 2nd ODI (Adelaide)
January 18: 3rd ODI (Melbourne)
New Zealand ODI series
January 23: 1st ODI (Napier)
January 26: 2nd ODI (Mount Maunganui)
January 28: 3rd ODI (Mount Maunganui)
January 31: 4th ODI (Hamilton)
February 3: 5th ODI (Wellington)
New Zealand T20I series 
February 6: 1st T20I (Wellington)
February 8: 2nd T20I (Auckland)
February 10: 3rd T20I (Hamilton)
 

AFP/Reuters

Published: Mon 24 Dec 2018, 9:44 PM

Last updated: Mon 24 Dec 2018, 11:48 PM

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