India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to lead the country for the very time. Pandya has been given the captaincy charge in the absence of prior candidates for the Ireland T20Is.
The 17-member squad named by the All-India Senior Selection Committee doesn’t feature India’s Test team regulars who will directly fly to England to prepare for the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston, scheduled to be played from July 1.
The 28-year-old Pandya, who led Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 title in debut season, was elevated to vice-captaincy and has served as Rishabh Pant’s deputy in the ongoing series against South Africa after original captain KL Rahul was ruled out with a groin injury. Experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar will serve as Pandya’s deputy for the series.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, who missed the latter part of the IPL 2022 and the series against South Africa due to injury, has also returned to the T20I side.
India will play two T20Is on June 26th and 28th in Dublin. VVS Laxman will serve as the head coach on tour and will be assisted by Shitanshu Kotak (batting coach), Sairaj Bahutule (bowling coach) and Munish Bali (fielding coach).
India’s T20I squad: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
