Politics · India Bureau
Bumrah named in Indian T20I squad for Afghanistan series
India has announced its squad for a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah included subject to fitness clearance. The squad mirrors the team selected for the Asian Games cricket competition later this month.
LSN India ·
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday unveiled the 15-member squad for the Afghanistan T20Is, scheduled to be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. The Afghanistan Cricket Board is hosting the series as part of bilateral cricketing arrangements between the two nations.
Bumrah's inclusion marks his return to the national squad after recovering from a knee impact injury sustained during India's recent ODI series in England. The 32-year-old was subsequently rested for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka on medical advice from the BCCI. His participation in the Afghanistan matches remains contingent on clearance from the medical team.
The selectors have also named all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, along with fast bowler Harshit Rana, in the squad. The availability of both Reddy and Rana for the series is similarly dependent on fitness assessments. The squad composition reflects the team management's strategy to field identical personnel for both the Afghanistan matches and the Asian Games cricket tournament scheduled for later in September.
The three-match series will serve as vital preparation for India ahead of the continental tournament, allowing the squad to build momentum and test combinations in the T20 format before the Asian Games competition.