KL Rahul is slated to lead the Indian squad in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe starting August 18. After being cleared by the BCCI's medical team, Rahul takes the captaincy, while the experienced Shikhar Dhawan will now act as his deputy.
The 30-year-old opener was originally excluded from the squad due to a flared-up hamstring injury, which also put his T20 World Cup hopes at risk. Previously, Rahul was sidelined for the West Indies series due to a COVID-19 infection while he was already recovering from surgery for a sports hernia.
To ensure he was 100% ready for the Asia Cup, Rahul was given ample recovery time and has now met all the medical requirements to return to play. Since he is an addition to the original 15-man roster rather than a replacement, the Indian squad now consists of 16 players.
Key players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Shami are taking a break from this series. The matches against Zimbabwe are vital as they contribute to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, the primary pathway for qualifying for next year's 50-over World Cup.
Fast bowler Deepak Chahar returns to the ODI setup after a grueling six-month recovery from a hamstring injury. Additionally, wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is back in the mix after overcoming a wrist injury.