In a significant move following the ICC World Cup 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the upcoming five-match T20 International (T20I) series against Australia, commencing November 23. The selection committee has appointed Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of the Indian team, with Ruturaj Gaikwad as the vice-captain for the initial part of the series. For the last two T20Is in Raipur and Bengaluru, Shreyas Iyer will replace Gaikwad as the vice-captain.
This series marks a shift towards grooming new leadership and fresh talent, as seasoned players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj are rested post their World Cup campaign. This decision provides an opportunity for emerging players to showcase their skills on the international stage.
India’s squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
The five T20Is against Australia will be played across various venues – Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Raipur, and Bengaluru, from November 23 to December 3. This series is not just a challenge for the new captain and his team but also a chance to regroup and rebuild following the World Cup’s emotional finale.
Post the Australia series, India’s busy cricket schedule continues with a tour to South Africa, comprising 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs, and 2 Tests from December 10 to January 7. Following this, the team returns home for a series against Afghanistan, featuring 3 T20Is. This period is crucial for Indian cricket, as it allows the team to test its bench strength and formulate strategies for future challenges.
