Indian team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma will start their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka on February 24 in Lucknow. Earlier, former India skipper Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant were rested for the T20I series. Later, Indian middle order batsman Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Deepak Chahar were ruled out of the T20I series as well due to injuries.
Nehra speaks
In a situation like this, former India bowler Ashish Nehra was “surprised” with Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion in the T20I squad. It is important to mention that Bumrah is also going to be the vice-captain of the Indian team.
“I am very surprised that Bumrah is playing in these T20Is. Every player wants to play, no doubt, but we have two Tests following this series as well. There are many matches to come. We have so many options among fast bowlers and a significant number of them need game time and confidence,” Nehra was quoted while talking to Cricbuzz.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan, for example, need more game time. The moment Bumrah returns to the XI, one of these players will have to miss the spot. So I'm surprised that he is playing here,” said Nehra.
Multiple options
In the recently concluded T20I series against West Indies, Avesh Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were seen in action in absence of prominent bowlers like Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
Indian team will start the T20I series against Sri Lanka in Lucknow, on February 24. The next two matches of the ODI series will be played in Dharamshala (February 26 and February 27).
After the completion of the T20I series, the two teams will be seen in action in a two-match Test series. The first Test match of the series will be played in Mohali on March 4. The second and final Test match of the series will commence on March 12, in Bengaluru.
India T20I squad:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Avesh Khan
