NEW DELHI: The squads for the five-match ODI series between India and New Zealand and the subsequent Tests are likely to be announced next week. The ODI series opener between India and New Zealand will take place on November 4 in Auckland. TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the selectors want to evaluate a few players in the ongoing unofficial ODI series between India A and Australia A. Selectors plan to keep an alternate squad ready for the last two ODIs as the Test regulars are likely to leave for preparations.The ongoing India A series has given key decision-makers an opportunity to see how the ODI hopefuls fare against a quality opposition. A few players from this group are set to make the ODI squad for the last two fixtures.After dominating the four-day matches, India A lost their first 50-over game by 125 runs. The likes of Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Prabhsimran Singh and Suryansh Shedge were blown away by the 21-year-old tearaway quick Mahli Beardman. The Western Australia speedster, who was out of action for seven months after being diagnosed with a lumbar bone stress fracture, returned with bowling figures of 4 for 23.Only Rajat Patidar (53) showed some fight against the Australian quicks as India A were folded for 149 runs while chasing 275.India on Tuesday named their T20I squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, with captain Shreyas Iyer continuing to lead a largely unchanged group currently competing against the West Indies. The big addition is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returns to the T20I setup after last representing India in the format in November 2022.Selectors have also named the India A squad, which will play three multi-day matches against New Zealand A. However, there will be changes to the India A squad as players will be rotated to keep them ready for the Test series, which will have a major say in India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
