Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batsman Rinku Singh is set to make his debut in Team India for the five-match T20I series against the West Indies and the United States, starting August 3. The Indian selectors had announced the squads for the Test and ODI series only last Friday and Rohit Sharma will lead both the teams.
But the team for the T20 series is yet to be announced and it is believed that all-rounder Hardik Pandya could lead the team if the selectors decide to rest Rohit Sharma. KKR left-hander Rinku Singh could be a key player in the T20 squad under skipper Hardik Pandya.
According to a report in TOI newspaper, Rinku Singh is all set to be named in the T20 squad for West Indies. Rinku Singh had a sensational time in the IPL 2023 season, scoring 474 runs in 14 matches for KKR at an average of 59.25 and a strike-rate of 149.52.
The report also states that Rinku Singh’s KKR teammate Umesh Yadav was not ruled out but was actually injured. TOI newspaper quoted a BCCI source as saying, “Umesh is suffering from a hamstring injury and is recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.”
The BCCI source also said that the door is not closed for Cheteshwar Pujara after being ruled out of the two-match Test series against the West Indies next month. “If Ajinkya Rahane can be made vice-captain of the Test team after being out for 15 months before the WTC final, then anyone can make a comeback. The doors are not closed for any senior player.”
However, pacer Mohammed Shami, who was rested for the ODI and Test series against the West Indies, is likely to be rested for the T20I series as well.
India’s 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… pic.twitter.com/PGRexBAGFZ— BCCI (@BCCI) 23 June 2023
Test Match:
July 12-16: 1st Test Match, Windsor Park, Dominica (7:30 PM IST)
July 20-24: 2nd Test Match, Queens Park Oval, Trinidad (7:30 PM IST)
ODI Series:
July 27: 1st ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados (7:00 PM IST)
July 29: 2nd ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados
August 1: 3rd ODI, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad (7:00 PM IST)
t20 international
August 3: 1st T20I, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad (8 PM IST)
August 6: 2nd T20 match, National Stadium, Guyana (from 8 pm Indian time)
August 8: 3rd T20 match, National Stadium Guyana (from 8 pm Indian time)
August 12: 4th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida (8 PM IST)
August 13: 5th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida (8 PM IST)
India’s 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.
India’s ODI team: 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.