There is good news for Team India and skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of the three-game T20I series against Ireland next month. Talismanic pacer Jasprit Bumrah is set to return for the series, his first appearance in any form of cricket since the India vs Australia T20I series in September 2022.
According to the Cricbuzz website, Bumrah is set to return for the Irish series, but there is no deadline for the return of hitters Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. While Iyer, who missed the entire 2023 IPL season due to a back injury, returned to batting in the net, Rahul was seen regularly in the National Cricket Academy (NCA) gymnasium in Bengaluru.
The final decision on the Irish T20I squad will be made after a meeting between new head coach Ajit Agarkar and India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.
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“The new selection committee chairman is expected to join the West Indies team soon, probably 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, location of the second test, on Monday,” the report from the Cricbuzz website reads.
“Bumrah should be selected for the Irish series. India’s spearhead has shown significant progress in recent times. There is no guarantee if Shreyas Iyer will be available but KL Rahul has no chance to feature not only in the Irish series but also in the 2023 Asian Cup. Rahul is currently in rehab at the NCA and , according to the latest information, it has not started knocking yet,” the report added.
Happiness watches Jasprit Bumrah on his run.#JaspritBumrah #Bumrah #BoomBoomBack #CricketTwitter #bowling #TeamIndia #IndianCricketTeampic.twitter.com/C3XTCG0MOF—Sayantan Naskar (@Sayantan446) July 16, 2023
The website report also states that Dravid and the Team India support staff will have a break after the series against West Indies. This means head coach Rahul Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey will return from the United States after the final two T20Is against the West Indies next month.
“The main reason for resting the coaching staff is to ensure they have enough time to recover ahead of the 2023 Asian Cup, which starts on August 31, followed by a host of assignments, including a series ODI of three games against Australia, culminating with the World Cup ending on November 19,” the report read.
In Dravid’s absence, Team India will be coached by NCA – VVS chief Laxman, who will be joined by Sitanshu Kotak and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (drummer) and Troy Cooley and Sairaj Bahutule (bowling). Former Indian striker Laxman had previously coached India’s tour of Ireland for a few T20Is last June.
The three Twenty20 internationals in Ireland this time around are set to be played in Dublin on August 18, 20 and 23.
No change in the 2023 Asian Cup schedule
Meanwhile, the report also states that there is no change in the schedule for the upcoming Asian Cup 2023. The final schedule, which has been delayed, is expected to be released soon. “Sri Lanka will host nine matches as previously decided, and the matches are expected to be played in Kandy and Dambulla. Lahore will be the other venue, where four matches will be played. The 2023 Asian Cup is scheduled to take place in the two countries from August 31 to September 17,” the report said.