Gill all set to return as ODI skipper; Kishan could replace Pant

Shubman Gill is set to return as India’s ODI captain, while his deputy Shreyas Iyer is likely to remain on the sidelines when the national senior selection committee finalises the squad for the three-match series against New Zealand.

The selection panel is scheduled to meet online on Saturday. The Hindu understands that Gill, who missed the recent ODI series against South Africa after suffering a neck spasm during the opening Test, will also attend the first official selection committee meeting of the calendar year.

Gill’s return is expected to result in Dhruv Jurel — who was drafted in as a reserve batter for the South Africa series — making way for the opener.

Shreyas, out of action since hurting his abdominal muscles in the third ODI in Australia in October, had been targeting a comeback, but delay in his rehabilitation means that the middle-order batter is yet to receive medical clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.

The only other possible change could be the return of Ishan Kishan in place of Rishabh Pant as the reserve wicketkeeper-batter. Kishan has already been recalled to India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against the Kiwis later this month as well as the T20 World Cup starting on February 7.

The Kishan case

It is understood that the selection panel feels that Kishan, despite proving his credentials in the 50-over format during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, should be given sufficient time to settle down in the Indian dressing room following a two-year absence.

The bowling department is unlikely to see any changes, having delivered consistently in the six ODIs so far this season.