Prithvi Shaw will have to wait for his opportunity: Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has confirmed that Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill will be India's openers in the first T20I against New Zealand to be played at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday, January 27 and Prithvi Shaw will have to wait for his opportunity.

The Indian Team will play the first of the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in Ranchi. New Zealand are coming into the series on the back of a whitewash at the hands of the Indians in a three-match ODI series.

The Indian squad is full of youngsters but there are senior players as well to lead the squad. The likes of Jitesh Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, Shivam Mavi have all been added to the side. This is a great opportunity for them to make a mark in a side that is in transition under the captaincy of skipper Hardik Pandya. The Indian team has not conceded any T20I series defeat under Hardik's captaincy.

Hardik while addressing the media on the eve of the first T20I said that youngster Prithvi Shaw will have to wait for his opportunity. He also confirmed that Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill will be the two openers for the Indian side tomorrow. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was earlier named in the squad, has been ruled out of the series owing to a wrist injury.

Fans and pundits have been waiting for Prithvi Shaw to make his comeback to the Indian side. He has been terrific in the domestic tournaments and was therefore rewarded for his performance. Gill, on the other hand, made his T20I debut in the Sri Lanka series and is brimming with confidence after a spectacular outing against New Zealand recently.

Although the Indian team doesn't have the likes of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, it was bolstered by the visit of former India skipper MS Dhoni, who came to meet the squad at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi ahead of the match.

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