Kohli rested, Dube earns maiden call-up for Bangladesh T20I series

Skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson after some blistering performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been called up as his replacement. The T20I squad will be led by Rohit Sharma. India will host their neighbours for a three-match T20I and two-match Test series.

Hardik Pandya’s back injury has also led to all-rounder Shivam Dube earning a maiden call-up in the T20I squad, after some consistent performances in domestic cricket. Pacer Shardul Thakur also makes a comeback, as India try out different combinations before the T20 World Cup next year.

Yuzvendra Chahal also returns as India search for an attacking option in the spin department. But chinaman Kuldeep Yadav was again ignored for the likes of Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar. Ravindra Jadeja after his exertions from the recent Test series against South Africa has also been rested.

No changes in the Test squad

The selectors have also named the squad for the two-match Test series, opting not to fidget with a tried and tested combination. The team is currently ranked No.1 in the longest format of the game and is on a hot streak of a world record 11 consecutive series victories at home. Shahbaz Nadeem, who was a late injury replacement for Kuldeep Yadav in the Ranchi Test, unfortunately, misses out despite his admirable performance.

The three-match T2oI series against Bangladesh will begin on 3rd November. The matches will be held in Delhi, Rajkot and Nagpur. The two-match Test series will begin on November 14 with the matches in Indore and Kolkata.

T20I Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur

Test Squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant