Just four nights post India’s heartbreaking World Cup final loss in Ahmedabad, the Men in Blue gear up to face Australia once again, this time in a T20I series. The BCCI recently unveiled a 15-player squad for the five-match series commencing on November 23 in Vishakhapatnam. Interestingly, this squad comprises merely three members from India’s ODI World Cup squad.
This selected squad closely resembles the one sent to Ireland for a T20I contest back in August. However, Suryakumar Yadav replaces the rested Jasprit Bumrah as the team leader. Shreyas Iyer is set to join as the vice-captain for the final two matches. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the leader of India’s Asian Games gold medal-winning team, will serve as Suryakumar’s deputy for the initial three games. Notably, Ishan Kishan is the sole addition from the ODI World Cup team.
Yuzvendra Chahal, left out from both the ODI World Cup and this 15-member squad, stands as a notable absentee. India’s preference for Kuldeep Yadav as the solitary leg-spinning choice continues. Chahal’s last appearance for India dates back to the West Indies tour in August.
Following the announcement, Chahal shared a cryptic, wordless post on social media, featuring a smile emoticon, instantly capturing attention.
😊
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) November 20, 2023
The forthcoming series against Australia initiates India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup slated for the US in approximately seven months. Chahal still holds multiple upcoming opportunities, particularly with the crucial IPL 2024 season ahead.
Commencing on November 23 in Visakhapatnam, the series against Australia will span across Thiruvananthapuram (November 26), Guwahati (November 28), Raipur (December 1), and Bengaluru (December 3).