In a welcome development for Captain Rohit Sharma and Team India, elite pacer Jasprit Bumrah is poised to return for the upcoming three-game T20I series against Ireland. This will be his first time back on the pitch since September 2022, when India faced Australia in T20s. While Bumrah's return is looking likely, the situation remains uncertain for Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, as neither has a confirmed date for their return to action.
three-match T20I series against Ireland next month is talismanic pacer Jasprit
Bumrah is set to return for the series. Bumrah will be making his first appearance
in any form of cricket since India versus Australia T20I series in September 2022.
According to reports, Bumrah is set to return for the Ireland series but there is no
deadline for the comeback of former vice-captain KL Rahul and middle-order
batter Shreyas Iyer.
Shreyas Iyer, who was forced to sit out the whole of IPL 2023 because of a back injury, has finally returned to the nets. Meanwhile, KL Rahul is still in the rehabilitation phase, spending his time in the gym at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. The final roster for the Ireland series will be determined after a meeting between head coach Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and the newly appointed selection chief, Ajit Agarkar.
resumed batting in the nets, Rahul has been seen regularly in the gym at the
National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The final decision on the squad for
the Ireland T20I series will be taken after a meeting between newly-appointed
chairman of selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Rahul Dravid, and skipper Rohit
Sharma.
The newly appointed head of the selection committee is expected to link up with the team in the West Indies soon, most likely during the second Test match in Trinidad. Salil Ankola, another member of the committee, is already accompanying the squad. Following their win in the first Test in Dominica, the report indicates that the team will travel to Trinidad on Monday for the next match.
Indies soon, likely during the second Test in Trinidad. Salil Ankola, a member of
the selection committee, is already traveling with the team. The Indian team,
having won the first Test in Dominica, will fly to Trinidad, the venue for the
second Test, on Monday, the report read.
Bumrah is a strong candidate for selection for the Ireland tour, given the substantial progress he has made in his recovery. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer's availability is still a question mark, and KL Rahul is almost certainly out—not just for the Ireland series, but for the 2023 Asia Cup as well. Rahul is still undergoing rehab at the NCA and has yet to resume batting practice.
shown significant progress in recent times. There is no guarantee that Shreyas
Iyer will be available, but KL Rahul has no chance of featuring not only in the
Ireland series but also in the Asia Cup 2023. Rahul is currently undergoing rehab
at the NCA and, according to the latest information, he is yet to start batting, the
report added.
The report further mentions that Rahul Dravid and his support staff will get a much-needed break once the West Indies series wraps up. This means Dravid, along with bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and batting coach Vikram Rathour, will head home from the US after the final two T20Is. The goal is to ensure the coaching staff is fully rested and recharged before the Asia Cup begins on August 31, which kicks off a grueling schedule including an ODI series against Australia and the World Cup ending November 19. While Dravid is away, VVS Laxman, the head of the NCA, will step in as the interim coach.
break after the series against the West Indies. It means Dravid, batting coach
Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey will be returning home from
the United States after the last two T20Is against West Indies next month. The
main reason for the coaching staff's rest is to ensure they have enough time to
recuperate before the Asia Cup 2023, which starts on August 31, followed by a
host of assignments, including a three-match ODI series against Australia,
culminating with the World Cup concluding on November 19, the report added. In
Dravid’s absence, Team India will be coached by VVS Laxman, the head of NCA.