Image Source: TIMES OF INDIA

On expected lines, Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami are back in India's T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand after being rested for the home matches against Sri Lanka. However, the wait for the return of Hardik Pandya continues as his "rehabilitation process is taking longer than expected," the BCCI stated in a release on Sunday (January 12).

Pandya last played for India in the home T20Is against South Africa in September, soon after which he underwent a surgery to deal with his troublesome back. He had initially been named in the India A limited-overs tour to New Zealand, only to be pulled out at the 11th hour with Vijay Shankar replacing him.