Flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been removed from India’s One Day International (ODI) squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan and has also lost his position as vice-captain of the Test team. KL Rahul has been elevated to the role of Test vice-captain, which will be led by Shubman Gill.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that indicated pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from both the Test and ODI assignments, a decision attributed to workload management. Bumrah is expected to return for the tour of England later in the summer. Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has also been granted rest from the forthcoming Test match.
The national selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, announced the squads following a selection meeting. The home assignments against Afghanistan are set to include a one-off Test match commencing on June 6 in Mullanpur. This will be followed by a three-match ODI series scheduled to begin on June 14, with matches to be held in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai.
Addressing reporters after the selection meeting, Agarkar stated, “Bumrah will be back when we tour England. He is working on his workload.”
In notable inclusions, spin bowler Manav Suthar and fast bowler Gurnoor Brar have received their maiden call-ups to the Test squad. Both players are teammates within the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Gujarat Titans. Additionally, Prince Yadav is a new face in the ODI lineup, with Ishan Kishan named as the second wicket-keeper option.
The Indian Test squad for the one-off match against Afghanistan includes Shubman Gill as captain, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, and Dhruv Jurel also featuring. KL Rahul is designated as the vice-captain.
The Indian ODI squad for the series against Afghanistan comprises Shubman Gill as captain and Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. The squad also includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, and Gurnoor Brar.
The Chenab Times News Desk