The Indian T20 team selection for the upcoming series against the West Indies has once again excluded Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have been absent from the side in recent matches. Instead, the 15-member squad will be led by Hardik Pandya, with a strong focus on nurturing young talent. It appears that the absence of Sharma and Kohli is not solely due to rest, as they have not been part of the last three T20 series, including the current one against the West Indies.
Rinku Singh, known for his finishing skills for KKR in the IPL, did not make the cut for the 15-member squad. However, as per PTI, there is a possibility that Singh, along with Jitesh Sharma from Vidarbha, may be included in the team for the T20I series against Ireland, which follows shortly after the West Indies series.
Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s top-ranked batsman and team vice-captain, is the only player above the age of 30 in the squad. One notable addition to the team is Tilak Varma, a promising left-handed batsman from Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. Varma has displayed his middle-order prowess and finishing skills in the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with an impressive strike rate of over 142 in 47 matches.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is set to make his Test debut soon, has also earned a spot in the T20 squad following his remarkable performances in the IPL. The selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, had no major surprises in its first meeting.
Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi have made comebacks to the international scene. Bishnoi, who last represented India in the Asia Cup, will be playing first-class cricket for Gujarat this season. The squad also boasts three wrist spinners, including Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Axar Patel, who has been in impressive form, has been selected ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, who has been rested. In the pace department, Avesh Khan and Umran Malik will spearhead the attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.
The Indian T20 squad showcases a combination of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, providing an opportunity for the younger players to prove their mettle on the international stage. The series against the West Indies promises to be an exciting contest as the Indian team looks to further strengthen its T20 setup.
India’s T20I squad: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Surya Kumar Yadav (vc), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
(With PTI inputs)
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Updated: 06 Jul 2023, 07:23 AM IST
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