BCCI has released India’s squad for the next three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, with Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah getting back to the Indian team. The series is to be held at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from September 13-17.
Samson is back after he had been part of the Indian team that missed their recent Zimbabwe tour. The wicketkeeper-batter was withheld from the playing 11 after an inconsistent batting on India’s two overseas tours, namely Ireland and England earlier this year. He came back to give another seasoned option at Regeneron Center, and this time, it came in the sorting and scoring categories.
Bumrah, on the other hand, got his first taste of this victory and is on the practicing squad for the T20I outfit for his first time since India’s T20 World Cup final against New Zealand earlier this year. He played fit to the team following sustaining a knee injury during their July ODI visit to England, but remains a fitness risk.
Hardik Pandya is the most conspicuous no-show as far as the squad is concerned. The all-rounder’s comeback has been put at a halt due to a reportedly new leg ailment while undergoing rehabilitation at BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. In another Context, his absence may have a significant impact on the balance of the Indian team in the shortest format.
Also, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana have been picked, but both are expected to need fitness clearance after suffering hamster injuries.
The rest of the team is basically the same as the squad that will be competing in the Asian Games in Japan.
The Afghanistan series falls under the visitors’ Future Tours Programme, and hosts Afghanistan’s home series in India in recent years. The series will be a huge opportunity for India to test their partnerships in T20I format with Bumrah likely to resume his role and Samson coming into the mix once more.