MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and for the T20I series against Australia and South Africa at home.
A lot has changed for India since the last edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year in Oman and the UAE, including the leadership. Captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid are all set to lead India in their first ICC event when they travel to Australia in October for the marquee event.
The squad was, however, missing all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who sustained an injury during the Asia Cup.
Along with Bumrah, fellow pacer Harshal Patel also returned to the side, having missed out on the Asia Cup with a side strain. Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the other two pacers in the squad, along with the all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel are the specialist spinners, with the latter ostensibly replacing Jadeja in the squad.
The batting line-up is along expected lines with captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik all included.Ahead of the marquee tournament, India will host Australia for a three-match T20I series followed by a T20I and ODI series against South Africa.
India named their squads for both the T20I assignments, which will act as a dress rehearsal for all three sides.
India have included Shami in squads for both series as well as Chahar, while resting Arshdeep. Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been rested for the T20Is against South Africa.
Two of the three changes from the Asia Cup squad include the returning duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, two lynchpins of the pace attack in the shortest format. With their return, the pace attack will return to full strength just in time for the T20 World Cup.
Bumrah didn’t travel for the Asia Cup in the UAE due to a back injury while Harshal was out with a side strain. Both the players were seen rehabilitating at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and have attained full fitness.The squad for the ODIs against South Africa is not announced yet.
India squad for ICC 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 players – 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.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be reporting to the NCA for conditioning-related work during the course of the home series against Australia and South Africa.