Thakur in, Rana out for Afghanistan T20Is and Asian Games

Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur has been added to India’s squads for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan starting September 13 and for the forthcoming Asian Games. The move comes after Harshit Rana was ruled out with a fresh injury while rehabilitating at the Centre of Excellence.

This will be Thakur’s second T20I series, having made his international debut against Zimbabwe in July. Thakur earned his India call-up after an impressive performance during last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he bagged 18 wickets in seven games, and picked up four wickets from two matches at an economy rate of 9.37 on the subsequent tour to Zimbabwe.

A BCCI statement confirmed Rana’s injury to be a rectus femoris strain sustained while bowling during a match simulation on September 7. The recurring setback is the latest in a run of fitness issues that have hampered planning for next year’s ODI World Cup in southern Africa.

Fitness returns and updated squad

Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy, both of whom were awaiting fitness clearance after months of rehab at the Centre of Excellence, were declared fit to join the team. Washington Sundar is also in the updated squad. The team had its first practice session at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Thursday afternoon ahead of the series.

India are also scheduled to play a historic one-off T20I against Japan prior to the Asian Games. The updated squad is:

Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur.

BCCI shake-up and logistical notes

It has emerged that the BCCI has decided to let go of Team India physio Kamlesh Jain in the wake of frequent injuries. The board secretary had earlier pulled up Jain for the spate of injuries to top players.

The depth in Indian cricket allows India to make multiple T20I teams, but the ODI format remains a headache. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen working closely with T20I captain Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar during practice, both integral to the ODI plans. When the ODI series against West Indies starts in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, Gambhir will be without first-choice ODI players like Bumrah, Iyer, Washington, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Reddy. There is no clarity on when all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be available as he continues rehab at the CoE.

India’s fast bowling coach Morne Morkel has not yet joined the team with sources saying he is yet to receive his visa renewal.

The Delhi and District Cricket Association confirmed the first T20I on September 13 will go ahead as scheduled despite a Delhi traffic police request to reschedule the match in light of the BRICS summit. DDCA said following a meeting with Delhi traffic police, it has been assured of all support.