Indian selectors had to make a unique decision regarding the selection of the Asian Games squad and the retention of Nitish Kumar Reddy in the ODI team for the upcoming series against the West Indies; consequently, he is now being called up to the ODI squad as well.
The selectors had to make an unusual decision: they removed Nitish Kumar Reddy from the Asian Games squad and included him in the ODI team for the series against the West Indies.
The change is one of a number of effects of two assignments overlapping. If India have to split their limited-overs resources between the three-match ODI series on one hand and the Asian Games on the other, they will not be able to return to the fold of the T20 group in the West Indies T20Is.
Shubman Gill will lead the ODI team and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be making a comeback to the format. KL Rahul has been appointed the vice-captain of the Indian team for the T20I and Asian Games series against Japan, replacing Shreyas Iyer.
The reshuffle has created an opportunity for those not in the club’s core. Punjab duo Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi are the first two call-ups of the team.The two Punjabers, Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi, are among the first two call-ups of the team. Yashasvi Jaiswal has now been brought on as a reserve opening bowling bowler as he was omitted from the England ODI squad.
One of the more interesting ones is regarding wicketkeepers. Dhruv Jurel has been picked for the West Indies ODI squad whereas Rishabh Pant will captain Rest of India in the Irani Cup.
There will therefore be a different journey for several known names in T20 cricket this time. Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube have been called up for the Asian Games squad and not the ODI series.
They will be coming back for the T20I leg against the West Indies, where they will be partnered with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Yadav and the young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The T20 group has been modified at the end. Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of both the Japan T20I and Asian Games after suffering a side strain. He has been replaced by Vipraj Nigam and Yash Thakur has replaced Harshit Rana.
The leadership relationship in the commitments is thus quite different in India. Gill will captain the ODI side of the Indian squad against the West Indies and Iyer will be in charge of the Japan and Asian Games duties.
Seeking to play a team for all events is not a feasible idea for the selectors and that is exactly what they have done, having separate teams for different priorities. The all-rounder’s realignment in this busy matchup is the most obvious instance of such a tactic, with Nitish Reddy being shifted into the role that he excels at right now.
