BCCI announces India’s T20I squad: Bumrah named vice-captain; Kohli, Pant rested for Sri Lanka series

BCCI on Saturday, February 19 announced an 18-member India squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka at home. Chairperson of the national selection committee, former Indian cricketer Sharma, chaired a virtual press conference to announce the T20I squad of the Rohit Sharma-led Team India side.

Speaking at the press conference on Saturday, Sharma confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rested Kohli and Pant for the upcoming T20I series between Sri Lanka and hosts India.

Sharma confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah would be Rohit’s deputy in the Sri Lanka series. For the T20I series, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been rested, with Ravindra Jadeja returning to the T20I setup. There is also a recall for Sanju Samson, who could also get a look in with Kohli, Rahul and Pant missing.

BCCI announced a revised schedule for India’s upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Instead of Tests, the series will start with T20 matches. The scheduling and venues have also undergone changes. The first T20 will be played in Lucknow, which was originally scheduled to host the third and final T20.

Dharamshala will host the second and third T20s while Mohali, earlier also slotted for T20, will host just one Test match. Bengaluru will be hosting the second and final Test match, a day-night affair.

Chetan Sharma, who is the national selection committee chairman, has confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rested Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant for the upcoming T20I series between Sri Lanka and hosts India. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named India’s vice-captain.

Chetan Sharma-led All India senior selection committee has announced Team India’s squad for their upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka on Saturday. Chairperson of the national selection committee, former Indian cricketer Sharma chaired a virtual press conference to announce the T20I squad of the Rohit Sharma-led Team India side. In the build-up to the squad announcement of the Sri Lanka series, multiple reports had suggested that former Indian skipper Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant will miss India’s next white-ball assignment. 

Speaking at the traditional press conference on Saturday, Sharma confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rested Kohli and Pant for the upcoming T20I series between Sri Lanka and hosts India. Pant and Kohli smashed half-centuries to set up India’s thrilling win over the West Indies in the second T20I of the three-match series. The BCCI has given Pant and Kohli a much-needed rest from international cricket. 

Leaving the Indian team’s bio-bubble on Saturday, the batting superstars had left for their respective homes ahead of India’s meeting with the West Indies in the 3rd T20I at Eden Gardens. Chief selector Sharma also revealed the changes India have made in its squad for the three-match T20I series against the former world champions. Announcing the return of Jasprit Bumrah, Sharma confirmed that the star pacer will be Rohit’s deputy in the Sri Lanka series. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has also returned to the fold for the Sri Lanka white-ball series. Wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson has replaced Pant for the three-match T20I series between Sri Lanka and hosts India. 

On the other hand, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have returned to the T20I setup. Bumrah was rested for the WI limited-overs series whereas Jadeja was out of action due to injury. He had also missed the entire South Africa tour, due to a knee injury which he sustained during the New Zealand home series in late 2021. Bumrah will also be Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the white-ball series as regular white-ball vice-captain KL Rahul is out with a hamstring injury (during the WI ODIs).

The rest of the squad majorly remains the same (compared to the WI series). Shardul Thakur’s name is missing (reasons unknown) whereas Sanju Samson has also made a comeback.  

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The SL series will get underway on February 24 with the series opener to be played in Lucknow. The remainder of the T20Is will be held in Dharamshala before the two Tests follow suit. The red-ball series will be played from March 4-March 16.

India’s squad for the Sri Lanka T20I series:

Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar, Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan.