KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. The BCCI medical team announced the senior opener’s fitness on Thursday, August 11.
On July 30, the BCCI declared a 15-man squad for the Zimbabwe series. Senior Indian ballplayer Shikhar Dhawan initially captained the team. KL Rahul’s name was not on the list because of his ongoing surgery.Â
He was out of action before the Indies outing because of hernia surgery and later a positive COVID diagnosis. The batsman wasn’t at first chosen for the Zimbabwe tour because of his prolonged recovery. He was granted time to properly rest before the crucial Asia Cup.
But once being cleared by the BCCI medical team to play against Zimbabwe, the All-India Senior Selection Committee selected Rahul as India’s captain.
Dhawan will function as India’s vice-captain for the series due to Rahul’s availability.
“The BCCI Medical Team has assessed KL Rahul and cleared him to play in the upcoming three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe,” the Board for Control of Cricket in India said in a statement.
Rahul’s inclusion increased the size of the squad to 16 because the selectors created no replacements. Ruturaj Gaikwad, however, has nearly no likelihood of playing during this series because of Rahul’s presence.
After missing tons of action because of injuries, pacer Deepak Chahar and spinner Washington Sundar will also play in the upcoming series. Bumrah, on the other hand, is managing a back problem. He has already been disqualified from the Asia Cup, which will take place in the UAE on August 27.
Many senior players are rested for the series. Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami, will not play against Zimbabwe.
India will be touring Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series between August 18 and August 22.
India Squad for Zimbabwe: KL Rahul (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd Siraj, Deepak Chahar.
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