'Fit Hardik is necessity': Selection committee to decide India Test, ODI squad for NZ after clarity on Pandya’s fitness

After India announced the team for five T20 Internationals, Hardik Pandya had failed to make a comeback after failing a mandatory fitness test. 

He recently had back surgery and was picked up for India A team's tour, but was pulled out after he failed the fitness test in Mumbai. 

Now awaiting clarity on the all-rounder's fitness status, the national selection committee will pick India’s Test and ODI teams for the New Zealand tour after a few days.

The meeting was earlier tentatively scheduled for Sunday.

“There isn’t going to be too much brainstorming with regards to the team. But a fit Hardik is a necessity. The moment NCA (National Cricket Academy) gives Hardik green light to play competitive cricket, he will be an automatic choice. So the selectors will wait for a few more days,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

If Hardik fails to make it, the selectors may look at Suryakumar Yadav since the ODIs in New Zealand will be an extension of the T20s.

As for the other members, players like KL Rahul would be in the squad seeing his current form. Rahul has been India’s most consistent player in T20s and ODIs.

Skipper Virat Kohli will also have options in a fit-again Prithvi Shaw or Shubman Gill, who was the reserve Test opener during the home series last season.

The other change in the Test squad could be Navdeep Saini, who could join as the extra pacer. A possibility of Ajinkya Rahane being considered over Kedar Jadhav could also be possible.

“Kedar is certainly not going to play the 2023 World Cup and doesn’t even bowl now. Since he is not in T20, no point in carrying him to New Zealand. Possibly Surya or Rahane should be tried,” a BCCI source, privy to selection matters, told PTI.