Regular captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain KL Rahul have been rested alongside Virat Kohli. However, Laxman feels that the players selected for the series have enough experience at the international level, especially in the T20 format.
In addition to the regular top three batters, coach Rahul Dravid has also been rested for the New Zealand series. India bowed out of the T20 World Cup after getting hammered by England in the semi-final. Laxman felt that it was important to manage the workload of the players and give them breaks.
India has a huge pool of players too and Laxman said that it was a luxury to have so many top-class players who can don Indian colors. He also believes that T20 specialists will become a regular feature in the team going forward.
He added,
Shubhman Gill returns to the land which gave him the initial fame
Life comes down to a full circle for Shubhman Gill as he returns to the country that gave him his first international recognition. He is the only player among the 16-member squad yet to make his debut in the T20 format.
Gill was adjudged the player of the tournament during the U-19 World Cup in 2018 which was played in New Zealand.
The 23-year-old also made his ODI debut in New Zealand in 2019. With the T20 debut just around the corner, Laxman expressed his excitement at the prospect of Shubhman Gill. He also played an instrumental role in Gujarat Titans’ winning the IPL trophy earlier in the year.
In his last nine ODI appearances, he has smashed a century and three half-centuries. Given the form he has been in, it won’t be a surprise if he is selected as a backup opener for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The three-match T20I series kicks off in Wellington on Friday (November 18). The next two matches will be played at Mount Maunganui (November 20) and Napier (November 22). It will be followed by as many ODIs which will commence from 25th November.
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