If reports are to be believed, then, KL Rahul, whose suspension was revoked a day before by CoA, will join Hardik Pandya in New Zealand and will be part of the Indian squad to take New Zealand on in the 3-match T20I series.

Hardik and Rahul were suspended by BCCI before the first ODI of the series against Australia and were barred from taking part in any competitive match after their comments on Koffee with Karan sparked huge controversy.

Rahul is scheduled to play in the last three one-day games for India A against England Lions and reports from Times of India suggests that Rahul will fly to the country soon and will take part in three-match T20I series that starts on February 6. Unlike Hardik, Rahul will get match practice before returning to international cricket.

On the other hand, Pandya will join the team before the start of second ODI. While he might not be ready for selection in the 2nd ODI, Pandya could go on to play his first international game in four months on Monday in the third match.

The duo was replaced by Vijay Shankar and Shubman Gill in the Indian team, with Shankar making his ODI debut against Australia and featuring in the first ODI in Napier as well.

Rahul will have a strong chance to play the T20I series as Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been rested and he will return back to India after the third ODI against New Zealand. The three T20Is between India and New Zealand will be played on February 6, 8 and 10.

(timesnownews.com inputs)