BCCI announces T20I and Test squads against Bangladesh
The BCCI selection committee led by MSK Prasad announced a 16-member Team India squad for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. The three-match T20I series is set to start from November 3 onwards. High-flying India have roped in some new faces. However, skipper Virat Kohli has been rested. Meanwhile, a 15-member Test team was announced. Here are the details.
Ahead of the squad selection, a lot of talk was around Kohli. Kohli featured in 48 out of the 56 games India have played across formats since October 2018. Keeping his workload in mind, the selection committee handed the 30-year-old skipper a rest. Vice-captain Rohit Sharma will lead Team India in Kohli's absence. India have a strong record under Rohit.
With star all-rounder Hardik Pandya recovering from an acute lower-back injury, the selection committee included Shivam Dube in the side. The left-handed batsman has got the nod for his big-hitting skills. Meanwhile, wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson has been selected. Samson smashed a record-breaking double hundred for Kerala in the Vijay Hazare Trophy recently. He is included despite the presence of Rishabh Pant.
India's squad for T20Is against Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant(wicket-keeper), Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur.
Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan are expected to lead the charge atop. The likes of KL Rahul, Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer add depth and solidity. This is a crucial series for Pant, who has been poor in limited-overs cricket. Pacers Deepak Chahar and Khaleel Ahmed keep their places. Shardul Thakur replaces Navdeep Saini. There are four spin options. Yuzvendra Chahal returns to the side.
Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has been missing from action since the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2019. He was on a break against West Indies and missed the T20Is against South Africa as well. Dhoni didn't take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and it was reported earlier that he will not be part of the Bangladesh series.
Post the ICC World Cup 2019, the Indian cricket team beat West Indies 3-0 and then were held 1-1 by South Africa in a three-match series at home. With the World T20 in focus, India will be aiming to build momentum and prepare well.
India have done wonders in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. The side beat West Indies 2-0 and then blanked South Africa. Therefore, the selectors named the same squad that faced South Africa. India have won five Tests in a row and lead the Championship table. Kohli is set to lead the side against Bangladesh in a two-match affair, starting November 14.
India's squad for Test series against Bangladesh: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, W Saha (wicket-keeper), R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant.
