A number of
top uncapped performers from the Indian Premier League (IPL) – including Ruturaj
Gaikwad
 and Harshal Patel – received their maiden call-ups for India
as the squad for the upcoming T20I series at home against New Zealand was announced
on Tuesday
.

The Board
of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed Rohit Sharma as the captain
for the upcoming T20I series, with KL Rahul named his deputy. Former T20I
skipper Virat Kohli is among a number of high-profile players who have been
rested
for the series, which starts from November 17.

24-year-old Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Gaikwad won the Orange Cap in recently-concluded 2021 edition of the IPL with 635 runs from 16 matches. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fast bowler Harshal Patel won the Purple cap with a record-equalling haul of 32 wickets from 15 matches.

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Among other top performers are Delhi Capitals pacer Avesh Khan, who finished second in the race for the Purple Cap with 24 wickets, and stylish Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener Venkatesh Iyer. 

Here is India’s 16-man squad for the upcoming T20I series. 

India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj. 

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Apart from Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur have also been rested for the three-match series. 

India will host New Zealand for three T20Is, to be hosted in Jaipur (November 17), Ranchi (November 19) and Kolkata (November 21). The series will be Rahul Dravid’s first assignment as head coach for India, with Ravi Shastri stepping down following the T20 World Cup. 

The Blackcaps will also play two Test matches, in Kanpur from November 25-29 and in Mumbai from December 3-7. There has been no announcement from BCCI on the Test squad.