Team India squad for the T20I series against West Indies announced, Virat Kohli misses out

The All-India selection committee announce the squad for the Indian Cricket Team for the upcoming five-match T20I series against West Indies. Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the team, while the vice-captain KL Rahul also makes his return to the team after recovering from injury.

Virat Kohli, who has been enduring a rough patch in International cricket, has been excluded from the squad. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has also been rested for the series.

Senior players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan continue to be part of the team. The T20 series is scheduled to start on 29^th July 2022. The tour will begin on 22^nd July with a three-match ODI series.

India’s chinaman, Kuldeep Yadav has recovered from his injury and he makes his return to the T20 side. Besides, Ravichandran Ashwin has also earned a recall in the T20I side.

Young fast bowling sensation, Umran Khan has been excluded but India have persisted with Arshdeep Singh in the team. In the recent last two T20 internationals, Deepak Hooda was excluded from the playing XI. However, with Virat Kohli not in the squad, Hooda is likely to get more chances in the T20I series against West Indies.

He will have a big opportunity to present his case for the 20-20 World Cup alongside the likes of Avesh Khan and Harshal Pate, both of whom will share the fast bowling duties with Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal has been rested for the T20I series. In his absence, Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav are likely to get more opportunities. Besides, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel remain the left-arm spin option in the team.

The biggest talking point, following the squad announcement, has been Virat Kohli’s exclusion from the squad. The selectors are yet to give a reasoning behind his exclusion from the team.

Here’s a look at India’s complete squad for the T20I series against West Indies:

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul*, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.