5 players who missed out on India's ODI squad for Australia-New Zealand series

The BCCI announced a 16-member squad for the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, which will take place next year. While the ODIs against Australia will commence on January 12 and conclude on January 18, the 5-match ODI series against New Zealand will begin on January 23 and conclude on February 3.

Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (C), Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami

While most of the usual suspects made the squad, there were a few notable absentees.

In this article we'll take a look at the 5 players who missed out on a spot in the squad for the series against Australia and New Zealand:

#5 Mayank Agarwal

The 27-year-old from Karnataka was recently called up for the 3rd and 4th Tests against Australia and will most likely make his debut in the Boxing Day Test as well, given KL Rahul and Murali Vijay's poor form.

However, he will have to wait to make his ODI debut as he wasn't named in the 16-member squad to face Australia and New Zealand.

Agarwal has been in stupendous form over the past year or so, scoring plenty of runs in all formats in the domestic circuit and has been in great form for India A as well. He averages nearly 50 in List A cricket, with 12 centuries and 14 half-centuries to his name.

He would have been a great addition to the squad and could have sent a message to the selectors ahead of the World Cup in May 2019.

#4 Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya

The elder Pandya brother has been named in the T20I squad to face New Zealand but missed out on a spot in the ODI squad.

Krunal Pandya has played 6 T20Is for India so far and has put in a few good performances with the bat and ball. He has been extremely effective in the domestic circuit as well, picking up plenty of wickets and scoring a lot of runs with the bat as well.

With India facing a few problems in the middle order, he could have been an ideal fit in the squad.

However, the team management decided to go with Ravindra Jadeja and Kedar Jadhav as the all-rounders.

#3 Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav

The 31-year-old pacer was a part of the playing XI for the second Test against Australia which India lost. He wasn't too effective, picking up just 2 wickets in the first innings of the match.

However, Umesh Yadav might have been a lot more effective in the limited-overs format, given his performances over the past year or so. He can pick up wickets with the new ball and constantly trouble the batsmen with his swing. However, the team management decided against selecting him.

He will now have to wait and see if he is given a chance to prove himself before the World Cup.

#2 Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey recently smashed an unbeaten century against New Zealand A but finds himself out of the ODI squad to face Australia and New Zealand.

He has been quite inconsistent over the past year or so but this series could have been the perfect chance for him to send a stern message to the selectors. He was one of the best batsmen the last time India toured Australia.

However, with this exclusion, it is highly unlikely that he will make it back to the squad in time for the World Cup.

#1 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

One of the biggest talking points from India's squad selection was the exclusion of Rishabh Pant. He is currently the first choice wicketkeeper in Tests and has been performing quite well with the bat.

His performance behind the stumps might be questionable but he could have been chosen as a specialist batsman, given the fact that the World Cup is just a few months away.

With Dinesh Karthik in the squad, the BCCI might have given a strong hint about who the second choice keeper will be for the all-important tournament in England in May.