India has announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 international series against England, scheduled from January 22 to February 2, 2024. Suryakumar Yadav will captain the team as they prepare to host England. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah will miss the series due to back spasms, while Mohammed Shami makes a comeback after a prolonged injury layoff. The squad selection also sees Rishabh Pant rested following his recent commitments, and the exclusion of batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill from the Test squad.
The decision to rest Rishabh Pant comes after he played all five Tests in Australia's recent tour, where India clinched a 3-1 series victory, reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In Pant's absence, Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson have been chosen as wicketkeeping options for the England series. Meanwhile, Bumrah's absence stems from his inability to bowl during the second innings of the final Test in Australia due to back spasms.
Suryakumar Yadav leads a team featuring a mix of experienced players and fresh talents. The squad includes Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, and Tilak Varma. Mohammed Shami's return marks his first appearance since India's defeat by Australia in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023.
India is yet to announce its squad for the subsequent one-day international series and the Champions Trophy that follows. The T20 series against England marks a significant opportunity for emerging players to make their mark on the international stage under Yadav's leadership.
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