Mayank Agarwal and Vijay Shankar to join the Indian squad in Australia

The Indian selectors are likely to name two replacements for opener KL Rahul and all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The duo who was a part of the squad slated to play the ODI series in Australia and the for the limited-overs tour of New Zealand has been called back home. After the Koffee with Karan controversy, both Hardik and Rahul have been suspended. As a result, Mayank Agarwal and Vijay Shankar are expected to join the squad as replacements as per reports in ESPNcricinfo.

This is Agarwal’s maiden call-up in the Indian limited-overs team having made his Test debut in the series that preceded the ODIs. He played the last two Tests at the MCG and the SCG and made a lasting impact and thus was preferred over other limited-overs specialists for the series. Shankar, on the other hand, has played five T20Is for India but is yet to earn the ODI cap.

Recent numbers of Mayank and Shankar

Shankar last played an international match in the final of the Nidahas Trophy back in March against Bangladesh. He flattered to deceive with both bat and ball and was subsequently sidelined. However, he had a good time in the erstwhile Vijay Hazare Trophy, representing Tamil Nadu. In the 50-overs tournament, he scored 232 runs at an average of 46.40 with a top score of 129.

He was also successful with the leather in hand, having picked up five wickets. On the contrary, Mayank didn’t get to play much and scored 112 runs from three matches at an average of 37.33. During the Test series, he didn’t show any signs of nervousness and took on the bowlers without nurturing any fears.

He threw his wicket away a few times, Nevertheless, his fearless approach may have caught the eyes of the selectors owing to which he has been called up the limited-overs squad. Meanwhile, India didn’t have the greatest of starts to the ODI series against Australia as they lost the opening match at the SCG by 34 runs.

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