BCCI announces T20s, ODIs squads for New Zealand, Australia series, MS Dhoni makes return

The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) on Monday finally announced the squad for the upcoming One-Day International and Twenty-20 International series against New Zealand and ODI squad for the remaining Australian tour. But, the reports for the selection of the former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was uncertain and now the board has finally declared that the wicket keeper-batsman is in the squad. The selection of the squad for the two ODI series which will commence at the beginning of the next year will mark to be a good practice session for Team India ahead of 2019 World Cup.

MS Dhoni batting has been a big concern for Team India and his average batting score in the last 13 innings is just 25 runs which is also his lowest since his debut year.

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🚨 NEWS 🚨
#TeamIndia squad for ODI series against Australia and New Zealand announced.#TeamIndia squad for T20Is against New Zealand announced.

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 24, 2018

However, his overall contribution in the squad is considered more important than his batting score. His quick stumpings ability and experience in the difficult situation also help the current skipper Virat Kohli.

Dhoni is not only a part of the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand but he is also in the T20 squad. He was dropped from the T20 lineup in the last games, counting the current Australian tour.

India’s squad for ODI series against Australia and New Zealand: Virat (Capt), Rohit (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar, Rayudu, DK, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 24, 2018

Meanwhile, justifying the 37-year-old’s selection, a BCCI official, on conditions of anonymity, told PTI, “Since there are only eight ODIs (three against Australia and five against New Zealand), selectors want to give MS as much game time as possible (before the World Cup). Three T20Is means 11 international matches through the next one month''.

The Indian squad selected for both the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand includes Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (Vice Captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami.

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India’s squad for T20I series against New Zealand: Virat(Capt), Rohit (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 24, 2018

For T20 series against New Zealand, the selected series Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (Vice Captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed.

India will play three ODIs against Australia, 1st ODI on January 12th (Sydney), 2nd ODI on January 15th (Adelaide) and 3rd ODI on 18th (Melbourne). It will be followed by a five-match ODI contest against New Zealand - January 23, 26, 28, 31 and February 3. And then a T20I series against the Kiwis, starting from February 6th, 2nd T20i on February 8th and 3rd T20i on February 10.