The announcement of India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series has sparked a lot of debate. While the return of senior stars is good news, several players who have been tearing it up in domestic cricket were left out. Here are the five most deserving candidates who unfortunately missed the bus.

Ishan Kishan

Kishan has been on a tear recently, even smashing a 33-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has looked like a man on a mission, proving he is ready for a comeback. However, the selectors decided to stick with Rishabh Pant as the second wicketkeeping option in the ODI squad, despite Pant’s recent struggle to find consistent runs.

Ruturaj Gaikwad

This is perhaps the biggest shock of the list. Gaikwad’s domestic numbers are staggering; his List A average has now climbed higher than even Virat Kohli’s. After a solid showing in the recent South Africa tour, it seemed like he was a lock for the squad. Instead, he finds himself back in the domestic circuit, waiting for another chance.

Mohammed Shami

Shami has been working incredibly hard to prove his fitness and form. He showed glimpses of his old “magic touch” in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, picking up wickets with ease. Despite his experience, the selectors opted for younger pace options like Prasidh Krishna, leaving the veteran’s international future in the air.

Axar Patel

Axar has evolved into a genuine batting threat, recently hitting a brilliant 130 in domestic cricket. While he might be being rested to keep him fresh for the T20 World Cup, his absence is surprising given how much balance he brings to the side with both bat and ball.

Shardul Thakur

“Lord” Shardul has been very disciplined lately, maintaining an impressive economy rate and taking crucial wickets in domestic games. However, the team favored the younger Nitish Kumar Reddy this time around. It’s a tough break for Shardul, who has a knack for making things happen when the team is under pressure.