The team for Team India’s five-match T20I series against the West Indies was announced by the Indian Cricket Board selectors on Wednesday, July 5. Senior players like Rohit Sharma, as well as Virat Kohli, are still not on the roster, with the young batter Tilak Varma receiving his first call-up to the India team. All-rounder Hardik Pandya will continue to skipper the T20I team in the West Indies, and explosive batter Suryakumar Yadav is set to act as his deputy. Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are all on the team, and keeper-batter Sanju Samson is also included.
Varma has played for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and performed well in his last two seasons. He has participated in 25 games for the team in all, scoring 740 runs with a batting average of 38.95. Jaiswal, another IPL 2023 superstar, received his first call-up for the Indian T20I squad. The aggressive left-hander, who batted first for Rajasthan Royals (RR), scored 625 runs across 14 IPL 2023 games with an average of 48.08.
Rinku Singh, who made a significant impression in the finisher’s role with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2023, was unexpectedly left off the list. The southpaw pounded 474 pitches at a strike rate of 149.52 and an average of 59.25.
Bowling department for the tour of the West Indies
Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, as well as Ravi Bishnoi, are the spin bowlers in the team. Notably, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is not included. In the pace department, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, and Mukesh Kumar are among those named, while Avesh Khan also rejoins the team.
The absence of veterans like Rohit, Kohli, as well as Jadeja may be a sign that the selectors are considering players other than them for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Just one day after former bowler Ajit Agarkar had been appointed as the next chairman for the senior men’s selection committee, India announced its T20I team for the five-game West Indies series.
Fans react to the Indian T20I squad announcement for the tour of West Indies: –
India's T20i squad Vs West Indies:
Hardik (C), Kishan, Gill, Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Surya, Sanju, Axar, Chahal, Kuldeep, Bishnoi, Arshdeep, Umran, Avesh and Mukesh Kumar. pic.twitter.com/xto79dqti0
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 5, 2023
Can bet there were more deserving players than Avesh Khan but what to expect from the committee who picks Harshal as a death bowler
— Anuj Mishra (@anujmishra003) July 5, 2023
Rinku singh BCCI ki gandi rajneeti ka sikaar ho gaya. pic.twitter.com/300lDM4YCC
— Avishek Goyal (@AG_knocks) July 5, 2023
while I do agree that senior players should focus now on ODI world cup as the first priority, I don't see a reason why any of the players playing in ODI XI should be playing t20 this year? Otherwise, fit to phir Virat bhi h, usko bhi le aao aise to.
— AlphaBeta (@LucasMStarr) July 5, 2023
Shame where , Shivam mavi who was selected for national team performed awesome, fast bowler with good speed and bat well not selected and destroying by hardik gt, ?.maybe becoz he is bowling all-rounder like Deepak chahar and hardik don't want competition
— GOAT RO45HIT (@immTonyStark) July 5, 2023
You can clearly see politics going on in selection committee
Avesh khan picked only 8 Wickets this season with economy of 9.75 ? when there's Madhwal and Tushar
Madhwal – 14 Wickets in 8 Matches @ 8.58
Tushar – 21 Wickets in 16 Matches @ 9.92— Mel (@MythicalMelmet1) July 5, 2023
Kishan seems most undeserving in this list and most probably he wl struggle in WI slow pitches.
I would have gone with Jitesh Sharma as WK option. Gill and Jaiswal is already there for opening.
Gaikwad and Rinku are another deserving batter but Kishan gets nod on WK option.— . (@abc_xyz1102) July 5, 2023
@muffaddal_Vohra Feel for Rahul Tripathi . He tried to be a team man by prioritizing intent rather than runs.He is nowhere in the team. He should like statpadder shubman Gill to cement his place
— Indian (@ImKarthip) July 5, 2023
There is no interest in watching T20 series. Because Virat Kohli is not there pic.twitter.com/yrVIYKM17C
— ????? (@imVkohli_Fan18) July 5, 2023
If Rohit will be captain of T20 WC 2024 then why Hardik is in team (as a batsmen he is not good as he was earlier) ?
Rinku can do finishing role at 6. and make sanju captain for this series.
keeping Rinku out of team is blunder 🙂— 15_Gaikwad_Omkar (@OGlaugh) July 5, 2023
Really shameful, Mukesh kumar selected I know his domestic performance he bowl channel bowling nd have seam movement helpful in test but on what performance he is selected in T20? Why not mohsin khan
— GOAT RO45HIT (@immTonyStark) July 5, 2023
Do these selectors even watch cricket how can they select my mukesh kumar ahead of mohit sharma literally we on Twitter can select better team then these selectors
— Adarshh___ (@Adarsh_07_) July 5, 2023
