The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly confirmed the changes to the team ahead of India’s upcoming white-ball assignments. Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi has been included in the squad for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe in place of injured mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
Team India also suffered a blow before the three-match ODI series against England, with fast bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The Men in Blue will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing T20I campaign in Ireland and England under Shreyas Iyer.
Ravi Bishnoi replaces Varun Chakravarthy for Zimbabwe T20I
According to a report in Sportstar, the selection committee has included Ravi Bishnoi in India’s squad for the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe after Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out due to injury.
The decision was reportedly taken after discussions between head coach Gautam Gambhir and National Cricket Academy chief VVS Laxman, who will coach the team in Zimbabwe.
Varun Chakravarthy, who played the IPL with a toe injury, was declared fit by the BCCI Center of Excellence ahead of the T20 series against England, the report said. However, he suffered a hamstring injury before the fourth T20I and was ruled out of the Zimbabwe tour.
Bishnoi now gets another chance to cement his place in India’s T20I setup ahead of a busy international schedule. The leg spinner struggled in the third T20I against England, conceding 60 runs in four wicketless overs as Jacob Bethel attacked him throughout the innings.
Injuries lead to new changes in India’s bowling attack
Varun Chakravarthy has been ruled out of the Zimbabwe T20 series due to a hamstring injury ahead of the fourth T20 match against England. Varun Chakravarthy had already missed the Ireland series while undergoing recovery at the BCCI Center of Excellence after playing the IPL due to hand and leg injuries.
Harshit Rana has also been ruled out of the ODI series against England due to a hamstring injury. After missing the last two T20 matches, the fast bowler was scanned in England.
The BCCI has not yet announced the replacements for the three-match ODI series. With Harshit unavailable, bowlers like Gurnoor Brar and Arshad Khan are among the options to strengthen India’s pace attack.
India set for fresh-looking Zimbabwe T20 series
India will begin the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 23. VVS Laxman will be the coach of the team, while Shreyas Iyer will remain the captain and Tilak Verma will serve as the vice-captain.
The selectors have rested several senior players including Sanju Samson, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh for the Zimbabwe tour. Samson’s omission from the team followed a disappointing series against England, where he lost his place in the playing eleven after consecutive low scores.
The team also welcomes Rinku SinghWho has returned to the T20I setup after missing the recent assignments. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav and spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey have also been included as India look to test new combinations ahead of a busy international schedule.
India team for Zimbabwe: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper).