Indian cricket fans have received some exciting news as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the ODI and Test squads for the upcoming tour to West Indies. Despite some surprise changes, Rohit Sharma will once again lead the Test side in the two-match series against the West Indies.
In the Test squad, opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and fast bowler Mukesh Kumar have earned maiden call-ups, while wicket-keeper KS Bharat gets to retain his spot in the team despite his poor batting performances. Ishan Kishan is the other wicket-keeping option, and Ajinkya Rahane will take the position of vice-captain. On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara has lost his place in the squad, and Navdeep Saini makes his return to the longer format.
The ODI squad has an interesting inclusion as Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the backup option to skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Sanju Samson will be returning to the squad for the first time after several years, while Jaydev Unadkat has been named into both the ODI and Test squads. Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar, and Shardul Thakur are the seam attack options for the ODI team.
India will play two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is during the tour to the West Indies, which will start with the first Test on July 12 at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.
The decision to retain Rohit Sharma as Test captain may raise some eyebrows, as he has had an inconsistent performance in the past. However, his IPL record and the recent emergence of young Indian talents such as Jaiswal and Gaikwad might have given a boost to the team management’s confidence in him. Meanwhile, Pujara’s omission does not come as a surprise, as he had been struggling to score runs in his recent outings.
Overall, the BCCI’s squad selection has created some buzz among cricket fans, and the upcoming tour will be exciting to watch as Indian team will be looking to make a strong impression.
