Former cricketer Priyank Panchal has questioned the absence of experienced players in India’s final XI in the opening ODI against New Zealand. Panchal wondered how the likes of Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar are getting preferred ahead of Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel.
While Arshdeep Singh is part of India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against the Kiwis, Shami and Patel could not make the cut into the ODI squad. Shami has been performing consistently in the domestic circuit but he has been ignored by the selectors.
Singh is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20I format with 110 scalps but he too hasn’t received regular chances in the white-ball format.
Patel has been picked as the vice-captain for the T20 World Cup but the selectors selected the spin trio of Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja for New Zealand ODIs ahead of him.
“Don’t get me wrong. I like Washi and Harshit as players. Even Prasidh for that matter. Loads of talent. But I don’t see how the likes of Axar, Shami bhai, Arshdeep miss the cut for them. It’s unjustifiable after a point. #INDvNZ,” Priyank Panchal posted on X during the first innings.
Meanwhile, New Zealand posted 300 runs on the board in the opening ODI against India after Shubman Gill decided to field first. Rana returned with figures of 2-65 in the 10 overs he bowled against the Kiwis in the opening ODI at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara on Sunday. The fast bowler from Delhi accounted for New Zealand openers – Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway.
On the other hand, Sundar returned with figures of 0-27 in five overs before he suffered a side strain.
