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Hello and welcome to the daily round-up of all the major stories happening in the cricketing world today.
First up is the inclusion of Sanju Samson and Prithvi Shaw for the T20I and ODI side respectively for the New Zealand tour followed by BCCI's barring Wriddhiman Saha form Ranji Trophy. Ishant Sharma is in serious doubts for the two-Test series in NZ due to ankle injury and lastly Ross Taylor's warning to the incoming Indian team.
Here is a look at those stories in detail.
#1 Samson and Shaw in, Dhawan out for NZ tour
The Indian selectors named Sanju Samson as Shikhar Dhawan's replacement in the T20I side for the tour of New Zealand while also naming the ODI squad for the same. The most talked-about youngster, Prithvi Shaw was drafted into the ODI squad as Shikhar Dhawan wasn't able.
Shivam Dube and Shardul Thakur kept their places while Mayank Agarwal was unlucky to be ignored for the ODI squad.
India ODI Squad: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (WK), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, Kedar Jadhav
India T20I Squad (Revised): Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini
Full article: India name ODI squad for series against New Zealand; Sanju Samson replaces Shikhar Dhawan in T20I squad
#2 Saha barred from playing Ranji Trophy by BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has instructed India and Bengal wicket-keeper batsman, Wriddhiman Saha, not to take part in Bengal's next Ranji Trophy fixture against Delhi to keep away any injury concerns. Saha has missed all of Bengal's Ranji season till now. The surprise decision came to light after Ishant Sharma injured his ankle and was declared unfit to travel to New Zealand for the Test tour next month.
Bengal coach Arun Lal said after the win against Hyderabad a day ago that Saha wanted to take part in Ranji games but wasn't allowed by the BCCI.
"Wriddhi will not be available for Delhi match (at Eden Gardens from Sunday). I think the Board (BCCI) has said no to him."
Full article: BCCI bars Wriddhiman Saha from playing Ranji Trophy ahead of New Zealand tour
#3 Ishant Sharma suffers ankle injury
India's most experienced current Test bowler, Ishant Sharma suffered an ankle injury during Delhi's Ranji Trophy encounter against Vidarbha at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on the 20 January.
The incident occurred while bowling to Vidarbha skipper Faiz Faizal. In the fifth over, Sharma went up in appeal but twisted his ankle in the process while the umpire remains unmoved. The worst happened when he couldn't walk on his own and had to be taken off with the help of the support staff.
Later the tests confirmed that the lanky pacer had suffered a grade three tear and has been advised six weeks of rest.
Full article: Ishant Sharma suffers ankle injury before Test squad announcement for New Zealand tour
Full article: Ishant Sharma's participation for New Zealand tour in significant doubt after being advised 6 weeks' rest
#4 Ravi Shastri happy with 'options' at India's disposal
Indian head coach Ravi Shastri spoke about the positives arising out of a 2-1 comeback win against Australia and the national side's mindset ahead of their full tour of New Zealand starting January 24.
In an exclusive chat with PTI, Shastri spoke about the plethora of options for each place in the Indian team with the opener's slot and the wicket-keeping position taking away most of the limelight. He said that the versatility of KL Rahul in the batting order and behind the stumps have come as a huge surprise and added to their already abundant options. He also lamented the recurring injuries to senior batsman Shikhar Dhawan but took nothing away from the talented Kedar Jadhav.
“That toss will be taken out of the equation, we will play well irrespective of conditions, of opponents and in every country of the world. That’s what our aim is and that is what we are chasing. Yes, the World Cup remains an obsession and we will do all to fulfill that ambition.”
"The Australia series was proof of the mental strength and the ability to play under pressure. After the hammering at the Wankhede, to come back and play like the way we did, merits a lot of credit and praise.
“It showed courage and as Virat used the word brave, it showed we are unafraid to play brave cricket and with intent.”
"We love options.”
"Very sad because he (Dhawan) is a senior player. He is a match-winner. When someone suffers an injury of that sort, everyone is hurt in the team.
“Kedar is an integral part of the ODI team that will play in New Zealand. He will be treated like every other player.
Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020 | Ravi Shastri happy with 'options' at India's disposal in all departments
#5 Taylor believes NZ will test India at home
New Zealand's leading run-getter in Test matches, Ross Taylor feels that India will be tested against New Zealand in their den and will be a force to reckon with. Speaking ahead of India's full tour of New Zealand, Taylor cautioned the in-form Indian team of the tough conditions that await them.
Taylor accepted that New Zealand was blown away by Australia in Australia but put up a brave fight against England at home recently. New Zealand won the 2014 Test series against India 1-0 and the T20I series 2-1 in 2018.
"We were completely outplayed in all facets of the game throughout the whole series (against Australia) but now we're back on home soil and India will be a totally different opposition."
"They're the No. 1 team in the world, but we're obviously in conditions that we know, so let's get through the white-ball phase first before we get on to talking about that (Tests)."
Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020 | Kiwis will be a handful for India on home turf, reckons Ross Taylor
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