On Friday(June 23) the Board of Control For Cricket In India(BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming Test and ODI series for the upcoming West Indies tour. The team will be led by Rohit Sharma in both formats and the squads will be enriched with a mixture of young and experienced guys. However, the squad for the T20 series is yet to be announced and most probably Hardik Pandya is going to take charge of Team India in this shortest format of the game.
A lot of speculation is going on for the selection in the T20Is as many youngsters have performed brilliantly for their respective franchises in the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League. One such name which has been popping up at the top for the selection is Rinku Singh, the rising star from Kolkata Knight Riders who played some amazing innings for the team this season and won unbelievable matches single-handedly.
Rinku Singh got everyone’s attention with his sizzling performance where he scored 474 runs in 14 games at an average of 59.25 and a classy strike rate of 149.52). India will face West Indies for a three-match T20 series where the first match will be played on August 3 in Trouba.
The senior bowler of team India, Mohammed Shami who has not been picked for any of the Tests or ODIs will be rested for the T20I series as well.
According to a report by Times of India, which has claimed the inclusion of Rinku Singh for the T20I series, the same has been informed that Umesh Yadav has not been dropped from the team but he is out from the selection due to an injury.
“Umesh is suffering from a hamstring injury and is recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore,” a source in the BCCI told TOI.
Not only Umesh Yadav, but Cheteshwar Pujara has also not been dropped from the team according to a reliable source of the Board. The source gave an example of Ajinkya Rahane and said that if he could be back as the vice-captain of the team, then how could someone think of Pujara’s omission?
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“If Ajinkya Rahane can be made the vice-captain of the Test side after being out for 15 months before the WTC final, anyone can make a comeback. The doors aren’t closed on any senior player,” the source said.
“It’s just that you need to start transitioning somewhere. The selectors don’t want a situation where all the seniors quit the scene in one go and we don’t have anyone experienced left in the dressing room,” he said.
