The BCCI’s selection committee convened in Mumbai on Saturday to finalize India’s squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. The team saw some significant updates, including veteran pacer Mohammed Shami’s return after a 14-month hiatus and Dhruv Jurel’s inclusion as the backup wicketkeeper behind first-choice Sanju Samson.
However, notable absences included Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Once India’s preferred wicketkeeper across formats and a key player in last year’s T20 World Cup, Pant appears to have been edged out by Samson, who impressed with consecutive T20I centuries last year.
In contrast, Shubman Gill, who captained India in their first T20I series post the 2024 World Cup and later served as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy against Sri Lanka, was unexpectedly left out. The selectors made a surprising decision by appointing Axar Patel as the new vice-captain.
Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill Rested for England T20Is
As reported by the ‘Times of India’, the trio has been rested for the T20I series following their demanding campaign in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. This decision is likely aimed at keeping them fresh for the upcoming ODI series against England next month and the impending Champions Trophy.
A source insisted to TOI that “Pant, Jaiswal and Gill have been rested from this series to allow them to recover fully after a gruelling five-Test Border-Gavaskar series in Australia, for the ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy in February.”
Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been rested to manage his workload following the Australia tour, while Mayank Yadav was left out of the squad due to a lingering back injury that had already sidelined him from the T20I series against South Africa last year.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.