The BCCI has announced the team for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland, starting June 26th in Malahide. Hardik Pandya, following his success as the 2022 IPL winning captain, has been named captain for the first time on the international stage, with veteran bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar serving as his deputy. The squad also welcomes Rahul Tripathi, who earns his first-ever international selection.
Tripathi's maiden call-up comes as a reward for his outstanding batting form during the recent IPL, where he notched up 413 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad at a strike rate of 158.24. However, the team will be without Rishabh Pant, who is slated for the fifth Test against England. This series also marks a return for Sanju Samson, providing him with a fresh opportunity to prove himself.
Having previously led the Rajasthan Royals to the IPL 2022 final, Samson is expected to be a key contributor. The squad also sees the return of top-order specialist Suryakumar Yadav, now fully recovered from an IPL-related muscle injury. For the Ireland clashes, the experienced Dinesh Karthik is expected to take over the gloves.
The 'Men in Blue' boast a deep batting lineup featuring talents like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Venkatesh Iyer, and Deepak Hooda. The bowling attack is equally robust, with a pace battery consisting of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, and Umran Malik, supported by a spin trio of Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi in the 17-man squad.