New Delhi: India’s vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel were banned from Friday’s three-match T20I series against the West Indies which started in Kolkata on February 16, due to injuries that saw Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda replace them in the squad. .
Although Rahul suffered a hamstring injury while fielding in the second ODI on February 9, Axar has not fully recovered from his shin injury that also forced him to miss the South African tour. The spinner had also recently tested positive for COVID, said BCCI†
“Rahul sustained a left hamstring injury while fielding in the 2nd ODI on February 9, 2022, while Axar has resumed the final stages of his rehabilitation after recently recovering from Covid-19. They are now going to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further treatment of their injury,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has appointed Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda as replacements,” it added.
Both Gaikwad and Hooda are also part of the roster chosen for the ongoing ODI series against the Caribbean side in Ahmedabad.
Rahul and Axar’s fitness issues have also raised questions about their availability for the home series against Sri Lanka which starts on February 25.
Rahul had missed the first ODI due to personal commitments before returning for the second game.
India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda.
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