Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was dropped from India’s T20I squad for the three-match series against West Indies and Australia respectively, has been recalled in the Indian team for the T20I series against New Zealand next year.

As MS Dhoni returned in team India in the shortest format of the game, young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been dropped from India’s One Day International (ODIs) squad against Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking about their decision to recall Dhoni in the shortest format of the game, chief selector MSK Prasad said, “With regard to MS (Dhoni), we categorically told that he is going to be rested for those six matches so that we can give more time to Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant. So that is the very reason and now they have played quite a few matches so we thought we should now bring back Dhoni into the squad.”

MSK Prasad-led Senior Selection Committee announced the squad for Australia ODIs and as well for ODI & T20I series against New Zealand, on Monday, 24 December.

“With regard to Rishabh (Pant), the intensity in which we are playing right now after this series we want to keep him fresh and give him a break. He will have a very good game time 5 ODIs against the visiting England Lions,” Prasad told reporters in Melbourne.

Speaking about the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 that is scheduled to be held in England, Prasad said, “As we are coming near to the World Cup we are left with few ODIs. So more or less it is a core team. We have zeroed on 20 members. Only those 20 members will be figuring from now on.”

Virat Kohli-led team India is scheduled to play three-match limited-overs games against Australia and then, the ‘Men in Blue’ will lock horns against New Zealand in five ODIs and three T20Is.

Here are the full squads –

India squad for ODI series against Australia and New Zealand: Virat, Rohit, KL Rahul, Shikhar, Rayudu, DK, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami

India’s squad for T20I series against New Zealand: Virat, Rohit, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed