Selection meeting for NZ tour after clarity on Hardik's fitness status

Awaiting clarity on all-rounder Hardik Pandya's fitness status, national selection committee will pick India's Test and ODI teams for New Zealand tour after a few days. meeting was earlier tentatively scheduled for Sunday. "re isn't going to be too much of brainstorming with regards to team. But a fit Hardik is a necessity. moment NCA (National Cricket Academy) gives Hardik green light to play competitive cricket, he will be an automatic choice. So selectors will wait for a few more days," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anymity.

In case Hardik fails to make it, selectors might eir look at hitting prowess of Suryakumar Yadav since ODIs in New Zealand will be an extension of T20s in World Cup year. As far as selections are concerned, K L Rahul's stupendous white ball form makes him a firm favourite to get his place back in Test team. Rahul has been India's most consistent player in T20s and ODIs but he lost his place in Test squad after tour of Australia.

With skipper Virat Kohli w saying that it's difficult to leave a player like Rahul from any squad, he has better prospects than a fit-again Prithvi Shaw or Shubman Gill, who was reserve Test opener during home series last season. or change in Test squad could be fast-rising Navdeep Saini going as an extra pacer rar than Kuldeep Yadav as third spinner since only one among Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja will make playing XI. re is also a possibility that Ajinkya Rahane will be considered due to his better technique compared to Kedar Jadhav who is slowly falling off in pecking order. "Kedar is certainly t going to play 2023 World Cup and doesn't even bowl w. Since he is t in T20, point in carrying him to New Zealand. Possibly Surya or Rahane should be tried," a BCCI source, privy to selection matters, said.