Head coach Rahul Dravid rested for New Zealand series, VVS Laxman to take over duties

The Indian team will be without the services of head coach Rahul Dravid for the New Zealand tour with National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman taking charge of the team in the absence of the former Indian skipper. The news was confirmed by an anonymous BCCI source in the aftermath of India's damaging defeat in the semi-final clash against England.

VVS Laxman, who had been in charge of the team in the tours of Zimbabwe and Ireland along with the home ODI series against South Africa, earlier this year, has been handed over the reins yet again for the New Zealand series. 

"The NCA team headed by Laxman with Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting) and Sairaj Bahutule (bowling) will join the New Zealand-bound squad," a BCCI source told PTI.

Hardik Pandya will lead the Indian team in T20Is

The Men in Blue will play two white ball series against the Kiwis, a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series, commencing in Wellington on November 18. Apart from Rahul Dravid, the entire coaching staff has been provided a break with Hrishikesh Kanitkar (batting) and Sairaj Bahutule (bowling) joining the team alongside Laxman.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma along with other senior players, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin are rested for the New Zealand tour but will be back for the series against Bangladesh next month. Mercurial all-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead the T20I side, while veteran opening batter Shikhar Dhawan will be in charge of things in the 50-over format in the absence of Rohit and his deputy Rahul. Explosive wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will deputize in both formats of the game.

India's T20I and ODI squad for the New Zealand series

T20I squad: Hardik Pandya (C), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik.

ODI squad: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik.