Rahul, Umesh and Shami dropped from India ODI squad against New Zealand

Fast-bowlers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami have not been considered for the three-match ODI series to be played against New Zealand. The matches will be played in Mumbai (Oct. 22), Pune (Oct. 25) and Kanpur (Oct. 29). While Umesh took fouor for 71 in the fourth ODI against Australia in Bengaluru, Shami conceded 62 runs in that match, which Australia won by 21 runs. The selection committee has given Mumbai medium-fast bowler Shardul Thakur another chance. Shardul made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at the RPS (Colombo) on August 31 and played his second match at the same venue on September 3. The selectors have dropped Karnataka’s K.L. Rahul from the squad. Rahul was in the 15-member-squad against Australia, but did not play even a single match. His previous three outings in Sri Lanka yielded only 28 runs, batting at No. 3, 4 and 5. As an opener, Rahul has scored 220 runs in six innings for an impressive average of 55.00. The selection committee believes that since Umesh, Shami and Rahul will not find a place in the eleven, they should be given the opportunity to play in the Ranji Trophy. Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who scored an unbeaten 50 against the West Indies in Kingston in July last, has been picked again. The 32-year-old Karthik was recalled for a ODI match in Antigua after nearly three-and-a-half years. Karthik has 1365 runs ODI runs at an average of 28.44 (73 matches, 62 innings).