Team India vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel will miss the upcoming T20I series against West Indies in Kolkata, BCCI confirmed in a statement. The three-match T20Is will take place after the ODIs at the Eden Gardens.
Rahul sustained an upper left hamstring strain while fielding in the second ODI in Ahmedabad and will be needing time to recuperate. Axar, on the other hand, has resumed the “final stage of his rehabilitation” after recently recovering from Covid-19.
“Vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel have been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies to be played in Kolkata from 16th February, 2022,” BCCI said in a statement.
🚨 NEWS 🚨: KL Rahul and Axar Patel ruled out of @Paytm #INDvWI T20I Series. #TeamIndia
The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Rututaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda as replacements.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) February 11, 2022
Both the players will now head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further management.
Meanwhile, young opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Deepak Hooda, who made his debut in the one-dayers, have been named as replacements.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda as replacements,” the statement added.
Gaikwad has so far played two T20Is having made his debut in Sri Lanka last year. On the other hand, Deepak Hooda is yet to make his debut and will relish an opportunity in the shortest format.
The three-match T20I series is scheduled to take place on February 16, 18 and 20.
Updated T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda.