5 Players who can be rested/dropped from India's T20I team for the New Zealand series

New Zealand have had an edge over India in the ICC events. Recently, the Men in Blue faced a dismaying loss to the Black Caps in their second fixture of the T20 World Cup 2021. As India are all set to take on the Kiwis at home, they will look to break the jinx and dominate the proceedings this time around. India will host New Zealand for a three-match T20I series starting from November 17. However, it has been reported that the management might rest a few senior players for this series. Quite a few key players have been in the bio-secure bubble for a long time and thus could be rested for the upcoming matches. The recently concluded Indian Premier League brought a lot of players into the limelight who exuded their sheer flair in the tournament. The proven IPL performers might get a green signal for the series with the absence of the first-choice players. Here are 5 Players who can be rested/dropped from India’s T20I team for the New Zealand series: 1. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images) Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli had announced that he will step down as Team India’s T20I captain post the mega event. It is to be noted that he has been a part of the team since the England Test series. India played four Test matches against England before the fifth Test was called off as COVID-19 cases had entered the Indian camp. Post that, Kohli was a part of the IPL, leading the RCB side. He looked in fine touch in the UAE leg of the IPL while opening the innings alongside Devdutt Padikkal. However, he had announced that he would be captaining the franchise for the last time in this tournament. He then channeled his energies towards the World Cup. After having played a lot of cricket in recent times, he is likely to be rested for the T20I series against the Kiwis. Thus, Rohit Sharma, who has been his deputy in white-ball cricket, could possibly take the captaincy reigns. Moreover, there have been talks that KL Rahul may also be handed over the duty. 2. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Jasprit Bumrah, too, was a part of the Test match series in England and the IPL before entering the mega event. Bumrah exuded his flair in the Test series as he chipped in with some impressive spells. He also completed 100 Test wickets on the tour. Talking about the IPL, Mumbai Indians did not have a pleasant season this time around. The team wasn’t able to bring a shift in their fortunes in the second half of the tournament and owing to this, they couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. Bumrah, however, finished as the top wicket-taker for the team. He entered the T20 World Cup with a lot of hopes pinned on him to perform for the side and make a larger impact. With the likes of Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan ,who both had a splendid IPL 2021, in the mix, Bumrah can be rested for this series. 3. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The all-rounder has struggled with his form lately. In the IPL, Hardik Pandya registered a string of low scores and did not appear to be at his absolute best. With him not available for his quota of overs, Team India was also dealing with a concern of the sixth bowling option in the marquee tournament. Ahead of Team India’s match against the Black Caps in the World Cup, Pandya was spotted bowling in the nets. That came in as a sigh of relief for all the on-lookers. He bowled two overs in the match against New Zealand and conceded 17 runs. He couldn’t fetch in an impressive showing with the bat as well. However, against Afghanistan, he played an impressive inning and it appeared that he got back his rhythm to some extent. But his fitness remains an unresolved mystery and thus it is likely that he will miss the series against the Black Caps. 4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images) Bhuvneshwar Kumar wasn’t able to perform well for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the UAE leg of the IPL. In the second half of the tournament, the pacer managed to pick up just three wickets in six games at an average of 54. In the opening game against Pakistan, he bowled three overs and conceded 25 runs. The in-form Shardul Thakur replaced him in the playing XI for the contest against New Zealand. Thakur had finished as the highest wicket-taker for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021. Bhuvneshwar’s lean patch with the ball has been a concern for the side of late. The speedster has a considerable amount of experience under his sleeves and owing to that he earned his spot in the squad for the mega event. India have the likes of Deepak Chahar who can possibly be included in the side for the T20I series in place of Bhuvneshwar. 5. Mohammed Shami NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 23: Mohammed Shami of India. (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images) Mohammed Shami was also part of the red-ball set up against England. The pacer then played for the Punjab Kings in IPL 2021. He finished the tournament as the team’s highest wicket-taker, having scalped 19 wickets in the tournament. Playing in India’s opening game of the World Cup against Pakistan, the speedster conceded 43 runs in 3.5 overs without taking a wicket. This has placed him under major scrutiny. As previously mentioned, India have a few intriguing options in the fast bowling department that have done well in the IPL. Thus, Shami can be rested for the T20I series against the Black Caps, making way for other pacers in the side who the management would be aiming to provide good opportunities.

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5 Players who can be rested/dropped from India's T20I team for the New Zealand series

India will host New Zealand for a three-match T20I series starting from November 17.

2. Jasprit Bumrah

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