New Delhi: Mumbai seam-bowling all-rounder Suryansh Shedge has emerged as a strong contender to earn his maiden ODI call-up for India's tour of New Zealand following a series of impressive displays in the recently concluded List A series against Australia A.
The 23-year-old Shedge, who has previously played three T20Is for India in England, returned to competitive action after recovering from a hamstring injury and made an immediate impact with both bat and ball during the unofficial one-day matches in Puducherry.
In the opening fixture, he claimed four wickets with his precise seam bowling, and later contributed a crucial 66 runs in a winning cause during the final one-day encounter.
A source close to the developments noted that Shedge holds a strong prospect of selection because Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to feature prominently in the upcoming Test series as the fourth seam option and a lower-order batter, meaning Reddy will likely be rested for parts of the ODI rubber to prepare for red-ball fixtures.
The marathon tour begins on October 22 with five T20Is, followed by a five-match ODI series commencing on November 4 in Auckland.
While T20 cricket has traditionally been Shedge's strongest discipline, the selection panel led by interim chairman Pragyan Ojha has taken note of the significant strides he has made in his bowling ability. With Hardik Pandya facing extended absences due to persistent injuries, the team management is actively searching for viable all-round replacements.
Reddy remains an important choice for the Test side despite a history of minor injuries early in his career.
The fifth and final ODI in Tauranga is scheduled for November 15, while the opening Test in Wellington is set to begin on November 19.
Because November 16 is designated as a travel day, the Test specialists will have only two practice sessions on November 17 and 18 before shifting formats.
Consequently, the selection committee, which delayed its squad announcement for the 50-over matches, may need to name an expanded touring party to give the red-ball players adequate recovery time.
Given the scarcity of seam-bowling all-rounders in domestic cricket, Shedge presents an appealing profile to fill the gap.
The scheduling adjustments stem from New Zealand Cricket requesting additional one-day fixtures, leaving the Test contingent with a tight two-day preparation window for the pivotal World Test Championship matches. Captain Shubman Gill is also expected to shift his focus primarily to red-ball practice after the third ODI concludes on November 10.