The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squads for the upcoming West Indies tour, comprising two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and a five-match T20 International series, set to commence on July 12.
The selection brings some new faces to the Test side, such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and pacer Mukesh Kumar, who have earned their maiden call-ups. However, the team will miss the experience of Cheteshwar Pujara and Mohammed Shami, who have been omitted from the squad.
Ajinkya Rahane, who recently returned to the Test team for the World Test Championship final, has been named the vice-captain for the West Indies tour. His performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 has been noteworthy, contributing significantly to his team’s success, Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
In the 11 matches he played during the season, Rahane batted nine times and emerged victorious in six of those games. Remarkably, he scored half-centuries on both occasions when he faced more than 20 balls, achieving a strike rate of over 220. Rahane amassed 326 runs at an average of 32.60 and an impressive strike rate of 172.48.
Ajinkya Rahane twitted a picture of him commenting, “Coffee time.”
☕ time! pic.twitter.com/hHuNFshVIi
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) June 23, 2023
This showcased his ability to score quickly and make valuable contributions to the team’s total. Moreover, his impactful performance extended beyond the IPL, as he played a crucial role in the World Test Championship final against Australia. Rahane demonstrated his comeback with scores of 89 and 46 in both innings, playing a pivotal role in India’s commendable performance.
With his consistent run-scoring and ability to handle pressure situations, Rahane has proven his mettle in the IPL and international cricket. His selection as vice-captain for the West Indies tour further highlights team management’s trust and confidence in his leadership abilities. Rahane’s contributions with the bat, his experience, and his tactical insight will be valuable assets for the Indian team as they embark on their tour of the West Indies.
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Squads:
ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Shardul Thakur, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
TEST Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (VC), KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.