India squad has been announced for the two-match T20 International series against Ireland in Dublin which is scheduled to be played on June 26 and June 28.
While IPL 2022's winning captain Hardik Pandya named as India captain for the Ireland tour, the Ranchi-born Rahul Tripathi, who put up a sensational performance in the just concluded cash-rich league, has received a maiden India call-up.
But one name was missing which was expected to make the India squad, and the name was star all-rounder Rahul Tewatia, who took the IPL by storm in the 15th edition.
The Haryana-born cricketer played an instrumental role in guiding Gujarat Titans win the coveted IPL 2022 trophy despite being the new entrants but was snubbed by the selectors.
The gutted Tewatia took to Twitter and posted a two-word tweet that has since gone viral. "Expectations hurts (sic)," he tweeted. The post has got more than 10,000 likes and over 500 retweets on the microblogging site, with several users consoling him and assuring him that he will one day get his chance in the national team.
Tewatia had got a call-up for a T20I series in Australia after IPL 2020, but could not clear the fitness test at the time.
He has since not been picked for India.
In IPL 2022, Tewatia played the role of a finisher brilliantly for Gujarat Titans, helping them win many a last-over chase with his six-hitting heroics.
In 16 matches, he scored 217 runs at an average of 31 and strike rate of 147.62.
His Gujarat Titans skipper, Hardik Pandya, has been named captain for India's tour of Ireland, while pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named vice-captain.
Pandya, who is Rishabh Pant's deputy in the current T20I series against South Africa, was elevated to the leadership role and will join the Test squad in England after the completion of the home series.
Sanju Samson, whose profligacy has been well documented over the years, gets another shot at redemption, as he made a comeback for the series, having guided Rajasthan Royals to the IPL final.
Also back in the squad is Suryakumar Yadav, who had sustained a wrist fracture.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named vice-captain for the series.
The designated wicketkeeper will be 36-year-old Dinesh Karthik if one goes by the squad list, while both Ishan Kishan and Samson can keep wickets if need be.
Samson's keeping isn't considered up to the mark, so he could well be the third keeper in the mix.
India's T20I squad: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
