All-rounder Shardul Thakur returns to India's playing XI for the ODI series opener against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 18. The Mumbai-born player's inclusion comes at the expense of Umran Malik, but it increases the depth of the Indian batting unit against the No.1-ranked ODI team in the world.Thakur was not in the squad for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. With KL Rahul and Axar Patel not being available for the New Zealand series due to family commitments, the pace-bowling all-rounder was included alongside Shahbaz Ahmed for the three-match affair.His last ODI appearance came during the tour of Bangladesh in December 2022. He claimed four wickets in the series, which India ended up losing by a 2-1 margin. Prior to that, he had a good home series against South Africa in September-October, where he got to bowl with the new ball as well.Fans took to Twitter to debate the selection call which saw Thakur being included in the playing XI. Here are some of the tweets:Viksa Vedantist@AutodidactVikas@mufaddal_vohra Why is Shardul Thakur in the team?@mufaddal_vohra Why is Shardul Thakur in the team?Saikrishna సాయికృష్ణ@Sai__Krishna__All of a sudden, Shardul Thakur is in the playing XI. Poor management.All of a sudden, Shardul Thakur is in the playing XI. Poor management.KhabriBhai@RealKhabriBhaiBreaking News : Lord Shardul Thakur is back in the playing xi of IndiaHence Advantage New Zealand#INDvsNZBreaking News : Lord Shardul Thakur is back in the playing xi of IndiaHence Advantage New Zealand#INDvsNZDV 🏏🇮🇳@deepakv712Shardul ThakurShardul Thakur https://t.co/XgmUXYu1VIyr.samar@YusufRahamaniPlaying Shardul Thakur instead of umran Malik that's a disrespect to fast bowling.#INDvsNZ2Playing Shardul Thakur instead of umran Malik that's a disrespect to fast bowling.💔😭#INDvsNZViksa Vedantist@AutodidactVikas@BCCI @ImRo45 Why is Shardul Thakur in the team? 🤦🏻‍♂️@BCCI @ImRo45 Why is Shardul Thakur in the team? 🤦🏻‍♂️Shamak Layeeq@shamak_layeeqUnless there is a injury concern to Umran Malik, I don't see any reason to drop him and pick Shardul Thakur. You have to give him maximum game time before the World Cup, he can be an important bowler for India in the marquee event #INDvNZ #CricketTwitterUnless there is a injury concern to Umran Malik, I don't see any reason to drop him and pick Shardul Thakur. You have to give him maximum game time before the World Cup, he can be an important bowler for India in the marquee event #INDvNZ #CricketTwitterGiri Subramanian (Off Work)@giri26Listening to #RohitSharma it seems like he is keen to play #ShardulThakur to give some depth to the batting. I just hope that it is not the case. We should play the best XI available and not play players to try and manufacture a XI. This is how we messed up in the past. #INDvNZListening to #RohitSharma it seems like he is keen to play #ShardulThakur to give some depth to the batting. I just hope that it is not the case. We should play the best XI available and not play players to try and manufacture a XI. This is how we messed up in the past. #INDvNZSharat Chandra Bhatt@imsbhatt0707Hard on Umran Malik to de dropped as he has been superb in the middle overs in the ODIs he played . But our batting finishes at No. 7, so playing Shardul Thakur make into the playing XI as he provides some batting at No. 8 . #INDvNZHard on Umran Malik to de dropped as he has been superb in the middle overs in the ODIs he played . But our batting finishes at No. 7, so playing Shardul Thakur make into the playing XI as he provides some batting at No. 8 . #INDvNZArryaa Sinha@arryaa_sinhaI don't understand the selection of shardul thakur ....useless as a batsman and an average bowler in my opinion twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/s…ESPNcricinfo@ESPNcricinfoIn for India: Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar & Suryakumar Yadav In for New Zealand: Henry NIcholls, Blair Tickner, Henry ShipleyWhat do you make of both the teams?LIVE: es.pn/3iThoZE#INDvNZ618In for India: Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar & Suryakumar Yadav In for New Zealand: Henry NIcholls, Blair Tickner, Henry ShipleyWhat do you make of both the teams?LIVE: es.pn/3iThoZE#INDvNZ https://t.co/Vt1ZxRf0AOI don't understand the selection of shardul thakur ....useless as a batsman and an average bowler in my opinion twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/s…parthhhh@Sportify07@gurkiratsgill I'll personally would have gone with umran who bowled really well in first two odi's and specially his wicket taking ability in middle overs which we lacked in past ! Shardul thakur has done well in PP in odis not in middle overs ! So this selection doesnt make any sense1@gurkiratsgill I'll personally would have gone with umran who bowled really well in first two odi's and specially his wicket taking ability in middle overs which we lacked in past ! Shardul thakur has done well in PP in odis not in middle overs ! So this selection doesnt make any senseKb@Kb35713022@gurkiratsgill Everytime youngster get benched get ready for hammering of shami and shardulShardul thakur is average player in Whiteball@gurkiratsgill Everytime youngster get benched get ready for hammering of shami and shardulShardul thakur is average player in WhiteballCRIC PRATHEEP@Lefthandbatman_Shardul thakur playing instead of Umran Malik is a Clear indication that india is look for Extending batting depth ,if Shardul does what he done for past 3 years ,2 Wickets and 2 sixes in the end then I feel he is surely an asset ,Umran can be valuable only if he reduce economy.Shardul thakur playing instead of Umran Malik is a Clear indication that india is look for Extending batting depth ,if Shardul does what he done for past 3 years ,2 Wickets and 2 sixes in the end then I feel he is surely an asset ,Umran can be valuable only if he reduce economy.Vinesh Prabhu@vlp1994Love him or hate him, you can't avoid him!Shardul Thakur Love him or hate him, you can't avoid him!Shardul Thakur 🙏Atrovoid@atrovoidShardul Thakur in place of Umran Malik. It just happens in India. Joke of a decision.#INDvNZShardul Thakur in place of Umran Malik. It just happens in India. Joke of a decision.#INDvNZParitosh Kumar 🏏@ParitoshK_2016Shardul Thakur being in the 11 makes the batting line-up a little longer, that's a good choice. But it would be interesting how he bowls as he has been expensive most of the time in ODI cricket. Also, In the absence of Shreyas Iyer, it's a good team.#INDvNZ | #CricketTwitterShardul Thakur being in the 11 makes the batting line-up a little longer, that's a good choice. But it would be interesting how he bowls as he has been expensive most of the time in ODI cricket. Also, In the absence of Shreyas Iyer, it's a good team.#INDvNZ | #CricketTwitterSharon Solomon@BSharan_6Dropped Umran Malik for Shardul Thakur. Waah BCCI, you can never impress us in your Squad selection. #INDvNZ #INDvsNZ #NZvIND #NZvsIND1Dropped Umran Malik for Shardul Thakur. Waah BCCI, you can never impress us in your Squad selection. #INDvNZ #INDvsNZ #NZvIND #NZvsINDVaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳@VibhuBholaShardul Thakur replaces Umran MalikOnly Possible In Team India116Shardul Thakur replaces Umran Malik😁😁😁😁Only Possible In Team IndiaShardul Thakur has recorded single-digit scores across his last four inningsThe all-rounder has only been able to tally 13 runs across his last four innings. His last knock of significance came against South Africa in the first ODI at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, where he scored a quickfire 33.Team India have won the toss in the first ODI against New Zealand and decided to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.The Men in Blue are without the services of KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas, who was a late omission from the squad after sustaining a back injury, has been replaced by Rajat Patidar.The Blackcaps, meanwhile, are coming on the back of a historic 2-1 series win over Pakistan but will be without key players like Trent Boult, Kane Williamson, and Tim Southee.India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.New Zealand (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(c&wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner.Who will win the first ODI between India and New Zealand? Let us know what you think. Also Read: "I won’t waste my energy in it but if someone does it, I’m in favor of it" - Arjun Tendulkar backs run-outs at the non-striker's end