BCCI on Thursday announced India’s ODI squad for the first three matches against New Zealand, starting in Dharamsala from 16 October.
India’s leading bowler in Tests Ravichandran Ashwin, along with Ravindra Jadeja and seamer Mohammed Shami, has been rested while World Cup winning all-rounder Suresh Raina makes the cut into the side.
Haryana’s Jayant Yadav has been a surprise inclusion whereas Manish Pandey and Mandeep Singh too earned a call in the 15-member squad for India.
The team had no place for left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir, who had forced his way back into the Test team after some solid knocks in the domestic circuit.
Head selector MSK Prasad said Gambhir's name was discussed but "we needed continuity and we groomed Mandeep as an opener. He did extremely well against Australia A Down Under."
The first match of the series will be held at Dharamsala (16 October), followed by games in Delhi (20 October), Mohali (23 October), Ranchi (26 October), and Visakhapatnam (29 October).
Squad:
MS Dhoni (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mandeep Singh and Kedhar Jadhav.
(With inputs from PTI)