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India announced an 18-man squad for the T20I series against the West Indies, which begins on July 29 in Trinidad, with key players such as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yuzvendra Chahal missing out.
Kohli, who missed the first ODI against England due to a groin injury, has been ruled out of the Caribbean T20Is as well. However, the BCCI did not specify whether he was rested or not selected due to injury in its official release. On the other hand, pacer Bumrah and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal are not included in the squad.
The squad will be led by Rohit Sharma, with KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav returning after missing the home series against South Africa due to injuries, have made their comeback. However, their inclusion in the squad is subject to fitness.
“The inclusion of KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav is subject to fitness,” a BCCI release said.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant, who were rested for the ODI series, will take part in the T20Is. R Ashwin, India’s veteran off-spinner, returns to the squad for the first time since the home series against New Zealand last November.
Ashwin made a comeback in the T20I World Cup last year after a long absence from the white ball group, but has not been a regular fixture in the side since, with injuries also playing a role in his exclusion. His return will strengthen the spin department, which already includes Kuldeep, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Umran Malik, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Sanju Samson, who were in India’s squad for the first T20I against England, do not make the cut. After an impressive debut, the selectors have rewarded left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh by including him in the seam bowling department alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, and Harshal Patel.
Malik, who made his T20I debut in Ireland, was also a part of India’s recent T20I series in England, which India won 2-1. In his lone appearance in Nottingham, he gave up 1 for 56 in four overs. In contrast, took 2 for 18 in an impressive debut in the first T20I, troubled England’s openers with late swing.
On their Caribbean tour, India will play three ODIs and five T20Is. In the absence of regular players, India has named an ODI squad that will be led by Shikhar Dhawan.
The first T20I will be played at Trinidad’s Brian Lara Stadium, followed by the other two games, which will be played at St Kitts’ Warner Park. The final two games of the series will be played at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida.
India’s squad for 5 T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
Source:OCN
