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Team India came out of the Covid-19 jolt and had their first extensive training session ahead of the three-game ODI series against the Caribbeans on Friday (February 4). The previous day, the team had a light session where the players were accompanied by coaches.
On Friday however, barring the troika of Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer, all players and support staff were present for training after testing negative for Covid-19. The players trained under the spotlight and it was a session in its own right.
It was also learned that head coach Rahul Dravid introduced young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi to the players.
Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and others batted in the nets while the returning spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal bowled. Fast bowler Mohammad Siraj and all-rounder Shardul Thakur also bowled in the nets. Opener Mayank Agarwal is in isolation for three days and will be a substitute for the opening match in case Lokesh Rahul is not available. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has also been included in the ODI squad and can open the innings.
On Wednesday, three prominent players of the Indian cricket team – senior opener Dhawan, reserve opener Gaikwad and middle-order batsman Iyer – tested positive for Covid-19 during mandatory isolation before the start of the West Indies series. Four other people also came positive in the Covid-19 test, including net bowler Navdeep Saini. Saini is also on the standby list.
The other three members who tested positive for COVID-19 are fielding coach T Dileep, security liaison officer B Lokesh and masseur Rajiv Kumar. The Indian team had gathered in Ahmedabad on January 31 for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies. The series will start from February 6 in Ahmedabad which will be India’s 1000th ODI match. But it is now certain that the trio of Dhawan, Ruturaj and Iyer will not be able to play in the series as they will have to stay in isolation for a week and then come back negative twice in the RT-PCR test.
Mayank Agarwal, who was called up on Wednesday (February 2), had joined the squad. But he will only be available on the match day as his mandatory three-day quarantine has started. It is believed that the team management has kept Ishan Kishan in scheme of things for the ODIs.
India ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan.
West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh.
India T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel.
West Indies T20I squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh.
