I think it's the opposite. Bhuvi/Bumrah are lock-ins. Pandya was given a go to see how well he went.Pandya opened the bowling which means Bhuvi was probably not in the initial starting XI. Hopefully this changes things.
If there's one thing I've learnt watching India over the years it's that Bhuvi is never an automatic pick.I think it's the opposite. Bhuvi/Bumrah are lock-ins. Pandya was given a go to see how well he went.
I'd say that's the wrong way to go about it, Pandya's batting is fine for a number 7. If you are dropping him it's because you can't trust him as the 5th bowler, in that case you have to pick a bowler in place of him.Pandya is such a bits and pieces right now. Prefer they take another specialist bat ahead of him and make do with 10 overs of Yuvi/Jadhav/Rohit. But that sucks too.
Pretty clearly was a middle order audition with Taylor being left out.Hard not to be sarcastic about that NZ warmup performance - Ronchi top score! Neesham batting at 8 for some bizarre reason. Maybe because this was Anderson's final audition for the number 5 or 6 spot? Failed again. Santner played another agonising innings by the looks of things - I hope in a year or two he can contribute with the bat in ODI cricket but right now he is a bowler only.
So does that mean we get Ronchi opening in the tournament proper? Come to think of it, of all the equally crap wicketkeeper permutations available it's surprising they haven't tried him at 5 - he's terrible at both opening against fast bowlers and finishing against the same, but is not the worst strike rotator, especially if the opposition are nice enough to bowl spin at him through the middle overs. Broom keeping the spot warm.
Nicholls is terribad at ODIs.I'm beginning to wish we'd given Nicholls more of a chance in the ODI side. Yep, I'm in a dark place.
I don't always quote myself but...After Australia, India has the best LO attack today.
Nicholls averages 43 in List A and averaged 63 at 91 s/r in 2016/17 Ford Trophy. I wouldn't mind him as no 5 and makeshift keeper.Nicholls is terribad at ODIs.
XI should just be
Latham (or Ronchi whatever)
Guptill
Williamson
Taylor
Munro
Neesham
Anderson (maybe CDG instead)
Santner
Henry/Southee (maybe McClenenen, Patel Milne and CDG too)
Southee/Henry (maybe McClenenen, Patel, Milne and CDG too)
Boult
But where is our agricultural overlord Munro?