Hardik Panda and Prithvi Shaw highlighted the India A squads for the tour of New Zealand which takes place before the international fixtures. While Pandya has been named in the one-day squad for tour matches and three List A matches, Shaw has been included in both List A and first-class squads.
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Pandya has been out of action since the South Africa T20Is. The 26-year-old all-rounder was suffering from a back issue and underwent surgery in the UK. He was expected to be back for Australia ODIs but will now be back on the tour of New Zealand. The five List A matches will be an ideal preparation for Pandya before he makes his national comeback.
Shaw’s inclusion in India A squads means that he is back in the schemes of things. The right-handed batsman was team India’s first-choice opener on the tour of Australia in 2018/19 but was ruled out due to an ankle injury.
Shaw could have opened against West Indies (in Tests) but was banned for eight months. Making his comeback last month, he scored 240 runs in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and followed up with scores 202 and 66 in the opening round of Ranji Trophy.
Shubman Gill, captain of one-day squad, is also a part of the squad for first-class matches and one of him and Shaw will be named as a backup to Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal in the Test squad for the two-match series.
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The one-day squad also includes Mayank, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and Krunal Pandya.
India’s Test batsman Hanuma Vihari will lead India A in two four-day games. Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, who have been knocking the door for Test selection, will open the innings in the first match before returning home. Most of the Test regulars, including Cheteshwar Pujara, AJinkya Rahane and others, have been named in the squad for the second first-class match. The pace department remains the same for both the first-class matches.
Squads:
India A squad for two tour matches and three one-day games: Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill (C), Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Axar Patel, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Warrier, Ishan Porel, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj
India A squad for 1st four-day game: Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari (C), KS Bharat (WK), Shivam Dube, Shahbaz Nadeem, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Warrier, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Porel, Ishan Kishan
India A squad for 2nd four-day game: Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Hanuma Vihari (Captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Shivam Dube, R Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, Sandeep Warrier, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Porel