The Indian Cricket Board announced India’s squad for the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand and also for the first two Tests against Australia. Much to the delight of the fans, the board included Prithvi Shaw in the squad for the T20Is. India’s destructive opening batter was continuously overlooked by the team management.
He last made an appearance in international cricket against Sri Lanka last year. Since then, he has been continuously ignored for all international assignments. Shaw has shown great form, of late, in domestic competitions.
The Indian opener, recently, made headlines after notching a 379-run knock for Mumbai in their most recent Ranji Trophy game against Assam. Besides, he performed admirably in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.
The fans have been ecstatic after learning about the recent development. Here’s a look at how they have reacted on Twitter.
Prithvi Shaw kept tagging Sai Baba but never got included in the team. He tagged Jay Shah for the first time, he is in the time now pic.twitter.com/cFjBymk93u
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) January 13, 2023
Small thread: The return of Prithvi Shaw to the T20 team was inevitable. Will be interesting to see if the team management is game to play him ahead of Gaikwad & Gill.And given how far away the T20 World Cup is, I don't think this is, yet, a final statement on Rohit & Virat (1/n)
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 13, 2023
Finally Prithvi makes a comeback for t20 New Zealand series…congratulations boy…make it count now because I believe you are an all format player @BCCI @PrithviShaw
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) January 13, 2023
PRITHVI SHAW IS BACK 🔥🙌 pic.twitter.com/sD2R3fOR7E
— Rahul Singh (@RahulSinggghhh) January 13, 2023
Finally this opening pair pic.twitter.com/L15U7fLEkj
— LazyLoki (@Aditya66026572) January 13, 2023
Best news of 2023
— Tom Gravestone (@Whygravestone) January 13, 2023
Sai baba did it!
— Sarbadrito (@A_NormieBoy_) January 13, 2023
SaiBaba ne sunn li💯💯
— arnav.🏏 (@Cricket_Arnav) January 13, 2023
Good to see Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw trend on twitter. It’s a start. So many selections seem to be driven by perceptions, popularity.
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 14, 2023
And that’s where Delhi Capitals has to back Sarfaraz - play him in every match, as they did with Kuldeep.
Just want Ishan Kishan and Prithvi Shaw to open in T20I series against New Zealand.
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 13, 2023
Notably, senior players such as Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, once again, have been omitted from the T20I squad. The likes of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad held on to their spots. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya will be leading the team.
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t been added in the squad as well. He was touted to make his return for the ODI series against Sri Lanka but hasn’t been recovered fully yet.
Wicket-keeper batter, Jitesh Sharma and Rahul Tripathi also retain their position in the squad, while the pace department comprises of Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh.
In the spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal will share the duties alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make their return in the Test series against Australia. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan both have been added in the Test squad alongside the likes of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Cheteshwar Pujara to name a few.
India’s squad for NZ ODIs:
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 13, 2023
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik