Karthik recalled for ODIs against New Zealand

NEW DELHI: India yesterday recalled wicketkeeperbatsman Dinesh Karthik to the one-day international squad for three upcoming matches against New Zealand. Karthik, 32, was part of the squad for the recently concluded Twenty20 series against Australia but did not get a place in the starting lineup in the two completed matches.

Rookie fast bowler Shardul Thakur was also included in the 15-man squad for the series starting October 22 in Mumbai. Veteran pacemen Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav were omitted.

The selectors continued to rest their faith on wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav while ignoring seniors Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Top-ranked India have enjoyed a successful run with Chahal, Yadav and left-arm spinner Axar Patel in their squad during recent matches. The Virat Kohliled side thrashed Australia 4-1 in the ODI series before a 1-1 result in the T20s following the abandonment of the third and final match on Friday.

Hosts India will play the second ODI against New Zealand in Pune on October 25 and the third in Kanpur on October 29. The two sides will then play three T20 matches. Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur.