Vijay, Shubman to replace Hardik, Rahul for Australia, New Zealand Series

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has selected all-rounder Vijay Shankar and batsman Shubman Gill instead of KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya for Team India's Australia and New Zealand tours, here on Sunday.

It is to be mention that KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya are facing a ban of two ODIs due to their disgraceful comments made about women on a TV chat show.

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The BCCI said that KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya are returning from Australia. Hence, the All-India Senior Selection Committee will send all-rounder Vijay Shankar & batsman Shubman Gill as replacements.

Referring to the second match of the three-ODI series, BCCI further said, "Vijay Shankar will join the team before the start of the 2nd ODI in Adelaide."

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"He will be a part of the squad for the ODI series in Australia and the tour to New Zealand. Shubman Gill has been picked for the ODI and Twenty20 series in New Zealand," said BCCI in a release.

Vijay Shankar has just played five T20I matches while Gill is yet to make his international debut.

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Who is Shubman Gill?

-Shubman Gill made his List A debut for Punjab in the 2016–17 Vijay Hazare Trophy on February 25, 2017.

- He made his first-class debut for Punjab in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy on November 17, 2017.

-In February 2017, Gill was part of the Indian U-19 series win against England U-19.

- In December 2017, he was named vice captain of India's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

- Gill was the leading run-scorer for India in 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, with 372 runs. He was also named the player of the tournament.

Who is Vijay Shankar?

-While playing for Tamil Nadu, Vijay Shankar won two ‘Man of the Match’ awards in the knockout stage of 2014–15 Ranji Trophy.

- In October 2018, he was named in India C's squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy.

- On November 20, 2017, he was named as Bhuvneshwar Kumar's replacement in India's Test squad for their series against Sri Lanka, but he did not play.

- In February 2018, Shankar was named in India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the 2018 Nidahas Trophy.

-Shankar made his T20I debut for India against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy on March 6, 2018.