Page 40 - The Indian EYE 112522

SPORTS NOVEMBER 25, 2022 | The Indian Eye 40

INDIA IN NEW ZEALAND
Dual captaincy and rest for

head coach? Questions galore

for Men in Blue

The New Zealand series comprises three T20Is and as many ODIs. Once the tour ends with

the third and final limited over international on November 30, the Kiwis will return to India
for a white-ball series in January next year

OUR BUREAU

Mumbai/Auckland
ormer India coach Ravi Shas-
tri has shared his thoughts on
Fdual captaincy and agreed with
suggestions that India should have
new captain for the T20 format. Ravi
Shastri said there would be “no actu-
al harm” for India to consider the op-
tion of having a new T20I captain to
lessen the burden on Rohit Sharma,
who now captains India in all three
formats. Following the World Cup
in Australia, the selectors rested the
senior players, leaving Hardik Pandya
in charge of the Indian T20I team in
New Zealand.
Pandya took up the position for
the first time in Ireland earlier this
year after leading Gujarat Titans to
victory in their first foray in the tour-
nament.
“For T20 cricket, there is no
harm in having a new captain because
the volume of cricket is such that for
one player to play all three formats of
the game is never going to be easy. If
Rohit is already leading in Tests and India’s skipper Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the Semi-Final match of ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022 between India and England (ANI)
ODIs, there is no harm in identifying
a new T20I captain and if his name is
Hardik Pandya, so be it,” Shastri said but under Pandya in Ireland earlier series on the Kiwi soil, which follows Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Surya Ku-
during a virtual press conference fa- this year. India’s heart-breaking semi-final exit mar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Sam-
cilitated by Prime Video ahead of the “He is one of the fastest bowlers from the T20 World Cup, will kick off son (wk), W Sundar, Yuzvendra Cha-
first T20I in Wellington on Friday. in India and you saw what happened on Friday. hal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh,
The 1983 World Cup winning in the World Cup where genuine The New Zealand series com- Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvne-
player backed Umran Malik, who pace rattled opposition, whether it prises three T20Is and as many shwar Kumar and Umran Malik.
has been selected for both the T20I was Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah or ODIs. Once the tour ends with the New Zealand squad for T20Is:
and ODI squads and believes he Anrich Nortje. So, there is no sub- third and final limited over interna- Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen,
would add much-needed pace to the stitute for genuine pace, even if you tional on November 30, the Kiwis Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway,
bowling attack in New Zealand. are defending small totals. So, this is will return to India for a white-ball Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell,
During Shastri’s stint as coach, an opportunity for Umran. Hopeful- series in January next year. Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn
Malik was selected for India’s net ly, he will learn from this exposure,” India squad for New Zealand Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi,
bowling team in the 2021 T20 World Shastri said. T20Is: Hardik Pandya (C), Rishabh Tim Southee and Blair Tickner.
Continued at next page... >>
Cup. Malik later made his T20I de- The first of a three-match T20I Pant (vc & wk), Shubman Gill, Ishan Continued at next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com