India have been forced into a late squad reshuffle ahead of their five-match T20I series against the West Indies, with all-rounder Washington Sundar withdrawn from the squad and Naman Dhir named as his replacement, the BCCI announced.
The decision, taken by the senior selection committee in consultation with the team management, is driven by India's upcoming Test commitments rather than any fitness concern over Sundar.
Red-ball priority for Sundar
"The decision has been taken in view of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. With the Ranji Trophy season commencing on October 11, Washington will get an opportunity to play red-ball cricket for his state team and prepare for the Test series," the BCCI release stated.
Sundar, currently in Japan with India's Asian Games squad, will instead turn out for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy to get time with the red ball before India tour New Zealand for a two-Test series beginning in Wellington on November 11.
Another chance for Dhir
Naman Dhir, the Mumbai Indians all-rounder who made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram last week, has been named as Sundar's replacement in the T20I squad. He is yet to make his T20I debut for India.
Dhir briefly rattled the Indian camp during the second ODI in Guwahati when he limped off while bowling, but batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later clarified that the all-rounder was battling severe cramping rather than any structural injury — and he went on to play the third ODI in New Chandigarh.
The series ahead
India's updated T20I squad is led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Naman Dhir.
The five-match series begins in Lucknow on October 6, with matches scheduled for Ranchi on October 9 and Indore on October 11, before the final two games later in the month. Separately, pacer Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the third ODI with a left hamstring injury, with Anshul Kamboj drafted in as his replacement.
Sources: NDTV: Prasidh Krishna ruled out, BCCI announces replacement; Dhir for Sundar
The decision, taken by the senior selection committee in consultation with the team management, is driven by India's upcoming Test commitments rather than any fitness concern over Sundar.
Red-ball priority for Sundar
"The decision has been taken in view of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. With the Ranji Trophy season commencing on October 11, Washington will get an opportunity to play red-ball cricket for his state team and prepare for the Test series," the BCCI release stated.
Sundar, currently in Japan with India's Asian Games squad, will instead turn out for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy to get time with the red ball before India tour New Zealand for a two-Test series beginning in Wellington on November 11.
Another chance for Dhir
Naman Dhir, the Mumbai Indians all-rounder who made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram last week, has been named as Sundar's replacement in the T20I squad. He is yet to make his T20I debut for India.
Dhir briefly rattled the Indian camp during the second ODI in Guwahati when he limped off while bowling, but batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later clarified that the all-rounder was battling severe cramping rather than any structural injury — and he went on to play the third ODI in New Chandigarh.
The series ahead
India's updated T20I squad is led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Naman Dhir.
The five-match series begins in Lucknow on October 6, with matches scheduled for Ranchi on October 9 and Indore on October 11, before the final two games later in the month. Separately, pacer Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the third ODI with a left hamstring injury, with Anshul Kamboj drafted in as his replacement.
Sources: NDTV: Prasidh Krishna ruled out, BCCI announces replacement; Dhir for Sundar
