Chandigarh, Jan 3: Senior fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been recalled to India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match home series against New Zealand, while batter Shreyas Iyer’s participation will depend on fitness clearance, the BCCI said Saturday.
Siraj, who was left out of the recent home series against South Africa, returns to the one-day setup as India rest Jasprit Bumrah with an eye on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup beginning next month.
Iyer, named vice-captain, is recovering from a spleen laceration sustained during the ODI series in Australia in November. The BCCI said he must prove match fitness in a Vijay Hazare Trophy game on January 6 before receiving clearance from the Centre of Excellence (COE).
“Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE,” the board said in a statement.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the series after the COE did not clear him to bowl 10 overs in a match.
“Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and considering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed,” the statement added.
The three-match series will begin in Vadodara on January 11, followed by games in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18.
Shubman Gill will resume ODI captaincy after missing the South Africa series due to injury, taking over from KL Rahul, who had led the side in his absence. Gill was also dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad earlier.
Batters Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma and Dhruv Jurel have been left out as senior players return from injury layoffs. Gaikwad scored a century against South Africa in Raipur while batting at No. 4 but failed to retain his place.
Despite speculation, Rishabh Pant has been retained as the second wicketkeeper alongside Rahul.
India’s pace unit includes Siraj, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy providing a fourth seam option.
Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, now limited to one format, are expected to headline the series and draw large crowds across the three venues.
India ODI squad: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain, subject to fitness clearance), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
