Related Link: India Tour of New Zealand 2014 – Schedule
Ishwar Pandey
Tall fast bowler Ishwar Pandey of Madhya Pradesh has been selected for the India Test and ODI squads for this month’s tour of New Zealand. This is the first call-up to Ishwar Pandey in the Indian team. Also getting a maiden call-up to the Indian team is Stuart Binny, the Karnataka batting all-rounder. Stuart Binny is the son of former Indian all-rounder Roger Binny.
The Selectors have given a second chance to ageing left-arm quick Zaheer Khan. Many thought Zaheer Khan had played out the last Test of his career at Durban but the Selectors have other ideas. Zaheer Khan is lucky to keep his place despite bowling at low speeds and struggling to make any impact since the second innings of the 1st Test at Johannesburg.
The Test team sees left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha make way for Ishwar Pandey which was on expected lines considering that the New Zealand pitches are usually green tops suited for seamers. Ishwar Pandey has been bowling well in the ongoing Ranji Trophy for Madhya Pradesh. The 24-year-old Ishwar Pandey is not an out and out quick bowler but with his big height can generate extra bounce like Ishant Sharma. Pandey, who made his first-class debut in 2010 played for the now defunct Pune Warriors in the IPL.
In the ODI Squad, the Selectors have shown that they have run out of patience with Yuvraj Singh. Unfortunately, Yuvraj Singh who is arguably one of India’s biggest match-winner in ODIs has struggled to get any significant scores in his comeback in International Cricket. Even in the Ranji Trophy, Yuvraj Singh has failed to get much on the board.
The Selectors have replaced Yuvraj Singh with Stuart Binny with the latter showcasing his talent in the last edition of the IPL. The 29-year-old Stuart Binny, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals, has been in the domestic circuit for a decade now. Binny bats in the lower middle order and is capable of playing the big shots while chipping in with his military medium pace.
Meanwhile, the much awaited comeback of India’s fastest bowler Varun Aaron has been made possible by the Selectors. Although it comes at the expense of another express fast bowler Umesh Yadav and confined only to the ODIs. Ishwar Pandey has also been included in the ODI Squad replacing Mohit Sharma.
India Test Squad for New Zealand Tour 2014
MS Dhoni (Captain and Wicket Keeper), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, AT Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha (Wicket Keeper), Ishwar Pandey
India ODI Squad for New Zealand Tour 2014
MS Dhoni (Captain and Wicket Keeper), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, AT Rayudu, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron
Video: BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel talks about the Selection of the India Squads
