Dinesh Karthik replaces KL Rahul for New Zealand ODIs

Dinesh Karthik replaces KL Rahul for New Zealand ODIs

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Dinesh Karthik has made a comeback to the One-Day International side for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, the BCCI announced on Saturday (October 14). Shardul Thakur and Shikhar Dhawan were also included in the squad, while KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav were left out.

Karthik was a part of the ODI team in July earlier in the year against the Windies but was not included in the one-day series against Sri Lanka or Australia. Despite being named in the T20 squad for the three-match series against Australia, he didn't get a game. The Tamil Nadu skipper has been in good run-scoring form in the Duleep Trophy 2017-18 in September.

Dhawan, who missed the one-dayers against Australia due to personal reasons, is back in the 15-member squad, while Rahul bore the brunt of a string of low scores against Sri Lanka. Ajinkya Rahane, in Dhawan's absence, made the most of the opportunity and notched up four successive half-centuries against the Aussies becoming a perfect ally for Rohit Sharma at the top. But now, with Dhawan back in the team, the hosts will face a sweet headache over selecting their openers.

"Karthik's inclusion is a reward for the runs he has been scoring. There is no particular reason [behind Rahul's omission] because Ajinkya has done well as an opener. He (Rahul) will play Board President's XI or the Ranji Trophy. What's the point in him just being in the squad and not playing? We will see how it goes as far as his batting position is concerned. Because, as of now, this is the best combination," a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo.

"We are trying to rotate everybody. We are open to different combinations and options. DK instead of Rahul in the middle order is also a part of the process."

Mohammed Shami, who went for 62 runs in ten wicketless overs in his only ODI appearance in the Australia series, and Umesh, who posted returns of 4 for 71 in one match in Bangalore, have been excluded from the team and as a result, none of India's Test bowling stars finds a spot in the ODI set up. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah doing well, and Pandya providing enough of a cushion of a fast-bowling allrounder, Thakur has been included in the squad as a back-up option. 

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been out of the limited-overs scheme of things since the tour of Sri Lanka, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal doing well in the circuit. 

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, despite racking up impressive scores of 140*, 90 and 37 in his most recent List A games against South Africa A and New Zealand A, has continued to stay on the fringes and is yet to get an ODI call-up. With several middle-order contenders like Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav and Karthik, Iyer might have to wait a little longer.

SQUAD: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur.

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