IND vs NZ: Three Indian players who might be benched in T20I series

India are all set to challenge New Zealand for a limited-overs series, starting with the ODIs on January 18. The attention will be shifted to the shortest format of the game from January 27. Rohit Sharma is not part of the T20I side and Hardik Pandya will be captaining the side with Suryakumar acting as his deputy.

With Hardik at the helm, one has witnessed consistency in selection. The team management has backed the starting XI to come good and made changes only when absolutely necessary. One may witness the same against the Kiwis and certain players might be benched throughout the T20I series.

Check Here 👉 India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I - Live Cricket Score

Here are three Indian players who will be benched in the T20I series:

3. Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma set the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League ablaze with his spectacular performances. The wicketkeeper-batter took top-quality attacks to the cleaners and smashed 234 runs in 12 matches for Punjab Kings at a stunning strike rate of 163.64.

Jitesh displayed his batting might in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022 as well. He featured in 10 games for Vidarbha and hammered 224 runs at a magnificent strike rate of 175.00. Given the right-handed batter has been playing some phenomenal cricket of late, he was handed his maiden international call-up when Sanju Samson was ruled out of the second and third T20Is against Sri Lanka. However, the 29-year-old failed to break into the playing XI.

India have stuck with Jitesh for the T20I series against New Zealand. But given the Men in Blue also possess gun keeper-batter in Ishan Kishan, the chances of the Amrawati-born making his debut in the forthcoming series appears bleak.