Rohit to lead in NZ T20Is

Rohit Sharma was on Tuesday officially anointed India’s new T20 captain replacing Virat Kohli, who has been rested from the three-match series against New Zealand starting November 17 in Jaipur.

The new-look team has IPL 2021’s highest run-getter Ruturaj Gaikwad and top wicket-taker Harshal Patel in the squad of 16 along with Venkatesh Iyer, who is seen as a potential all-round replacement for the injury-ravaged Hardik Pandya.

Pandya has been dropped from the squad after failing to make an impact during the T20 World Cup. Ruturaj has already played for India in the Sri Lanka series. Senior leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got his place in the squad back while Mohammed Siraj, who has played a few T20Is in the past, is also in the mix. Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel and Deepak Chahar, who were in the T20 World Cup reserves, are now in the main squad.

Rohit’s appointment was a formality and KL Rahul will be his new deputy in shortest format. Pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami as well as Ravindra Jadeja have also been given much-needed rest for the short series. However, Pandya, who didn’t provide an honest picture of his fitness status, has been dropped.

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