India has roped in Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar to replace KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya for the ongoing ODI series in Australia as well as the limited-overs series in New Zealand that follows.

While Gill will join the squad only for the New Zealand tour that comprises of five ODIs and three T20Is, Vijay will be joining the team ahead of the second ODI of the ongoing series against Australia.

Pandya and Rahul, who were part of the initial squad to Australia, were sent back home after BCCI took an objection to the comments they made on a chat show on TV. The duo have been given seven days to explain why proceedings shouldn’t be initiated against them for misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution.

19-year-old Gill will return to New Zealand where he was named the player of the tournament during India’s successful U-19 World Cup campaign last year. Post the tournament, he has had a rapid rise that saw him make runs for India A and for Punjab in the domestic circuit. Gill also managed to bag an IPL contract for the first time when he was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders and the fruitful 12-month period has culminated in a maiden call-up to the senior side.

Vijay, on the other hand, has already represented India five times in the T20 format when he was picked to play in the Nidahas Trophy. He is widely viewed by the selectors as the backup pace bowling allrounder and had a good outing in New Zealand recently during the A tour.

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