India squad for ODI series against New Zealand to be announced today: Yuvraj and Raina to return?

Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina will hope to make their comebacks into the India team when the newly-elected selectors name the ODI squad for the series against New Zealand. The two veterans were dropped for the recent T20 series against the West Indies in the US, but could be in line for a recall.

Balance is essential in limited-overs cricket and MS Dhoni, who should return as captain of the India team, is someone who likes to have several bowling options. The problem with not picking either Yuvraj or Raina, or both, is that the replacements that have been picked in their stead are pure batsmen, players who cannot really roll their arms over and give the captain four-five crucial overs.

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However, having said that, Yuvraj and Raina have struggled for consistency with the bat in international cricket, and if the selectors feel it is time to look to the future and move on from the older guard, the two could end up missing out again.

The other major discussion for the selectors to go through is the opening slot. With Shikhar Dhawan injured – he has been advised at least 15 days' rest by the doctors after suffering a minor fracture to his thumb – and KL Rahul also struggling with a hamstring problem, it poses the question: Who will partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the India batting lineup?

If Rahul or Dhawan is deemed to be fit enough, both of them should be named in the squad, but if the selectors feel it better not to take a risk with their injuries, then Gautam Gambhir or even a Mayank Agarwal or Mandeep could come into the reckoning. 

Gambhir has already made something of a comeback after replacing Rahul in the Test match squad. The left-hander has a good chance of playing the third Test match against New Zealand in Indore, and he will hope that is not the only game he gets to play for India in the near future. Ajinkya Rahane, however, is likely to get the nod to bat at the top along with Rohit.

The all-rounder's slot could go to Hardik Pandya or Stuart Binny, or again both. Pandya has seen his star fade a little after making a terrific start to his international career, but persisting with the Mumbai Indians man might be the better option rather than going with Binny, who does not give you a reliable option in either bowling or batting.

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar missing the third Test match with a back strain, it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to play in the one-day internationals, but the spinners that will be picked should be a relatively straightforward one. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are certainties, while the selectors need to choose one of Amit Mishra, Yuzvendra Chahal, who was brilliant in India's ODI series against Zimbabwe, and Axar Patel.