Indian Opener Smriti Mandhana is set to miss at least the first ODI against the Kiwis. The player is expected to spend a few more days in the New Zealand government’s MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) centre.
The Indian batsmen missed the T20I match on 9th February along with the pacers Renuka Singh and Meghna Singh, who also are still in the MIQ facility. Yastika Bhatia filled the void of the left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana in the T20I match.
The New Zealand government has made it compulsory for Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh, and Smriti Mandhana to stay at the Managed Isolation Quarantine facility. (Yastika Bhatia said in the post-match press conference of the first T20I)
BCCI has no official statement about the matter yet, it is learned that there are travel-related issues among the three players who are still in the quarantine facility while the rest of the 15 members of the side have travelled to Queenstown to play their white-ball series against New Zealand.No player has tested positive for COVID-19 and officially reported by the Indian contingent in New Zealand, in presence of the two selectors who are with the squad.
As Smriti Mandhana is set to miss the first ODI of the series would see Yastika Bhatia will keep the opening spot. If Meghna and Renuka are also unavailable for the first ODI then the Indian team would have to go with Simran Bahadur and Pooja Vastrakar.
India is going to play a 5 match ODI series in Queenstown which starts on 12th February.
