New Delhi: BCCI has announced the squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia next month. The board also announced the squads for the T20I series against Australia and South Africa. The All-India Senior Selection Committee met on September 12 to pick India’s squads in which Rohit Sharma will be leading the side with KL Rahul as his deputy.
India will be playing three T20Is against the T20 World Cup hosts starting from September 20. With less rest and more practice, the team will move on to play a home series against South Africa. The Proteas will play a three-match T20I and three-match ODI series with India.
There is an important name Ravindra Jadeja missing in all three squads due to an injury in the right knee. India will surely miss the three-dimensional services while Axar Patel replaces him in the squad. Arshdeep Singh will miss the series against Australia, while Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar miss the series against South Africa due to conditioning-related work at NCA.
The squad looks pretty much balanced with the top three being fixed and in form, while the bowling unit has Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel back. To strengthen the pace attack, Mohammad Shami has been brought back, while Avesh Khan has been left out.
It is clear that the management is backing Ashwin’s experience and the ability to dismiss left-handers over Ravi Bishnoi. On the other hand, the teams will look to find an answer to the choice between Pant and Karthik in the course of two series.
India’s squad for T20 World Cup:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh
Standby: Mohd. Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar
India Squad for Australia T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah
India squad for South Africa T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah
The Indian team last played the Asia Cup where it got out in the Super 4 stage following the defeats against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Though there were some positives from the tournament, it raised questions about the death bowling, sixth bowling option and middle-order batting for India. The team which now has the key players, except Jadeja, will look to find their best playing XI now.
