While Team India is gearing up to lock horn with New Zealand for the opening T20I of the three-match series at the Ferozeshah Kotla in the Capital on Wednesday, Ranji runners-up Mumbai are preparing for their next round match against Odisha.
Shreyas Iyer was released by Mumbai to join the T20I squad, they were reinforced by the return of India’s Test deputy skipper Ajinkya Rahane.
Having missed the first few Ranji matches, Rahane is available for the game against Odisha and is traveling to Bhubaneshwar on Tuesday to join the rest of the squad. He posted a photo on Twitter which read: “Off to Bhubaneshwar??#Ranjitrophy”
Off to Bhubaneshwar🏏🏏#Ranjitrophy pic.twitter.com/3yALcjhmkm
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) October 31, 2017
Iyer had a great run as he smashed 57 and 138 in the only game he played for Mumbai this season against Tamil Nadu.
The Indian selection committee decided to bring in Shreyas and Mohammed Siraj for the T20I series against New Zealand. Speaking to the media after picking the squads, chief selector MSK Prasad said, “Shreyas Iyer has been prolific in all forms of the game, be it Tests, ODIs or T20s or IPL — name anything, he is performing. If we pick a player, we will give him an extended run and we will continue with him for some point and nurture him and see that he goes on to become successful.”