India have announced a near full-strength squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, with Jasprit Bumrah making his return to the format and Shreyas Iyer named captain.
Bumrah will feature in India’s T20I squad for the first time since the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand in March. The pace spearhead headlines a strong bowling attack that also includes Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana, with Rana’s participation subject to fitness clearance.
Sanju Samson has also returned to the squad after missing the Zimbabwe T20Is. He will share wicketkeeping duties with Ishan Kishan.
Samson is among eight changes to the squad that travelled to Zimbabwe. Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, Prabhsimran Singh, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav and Ashok Sharma have been left out.
The bowling attack has been bolstered by the return of several first-choice options and bears a similar look to the unit that featured during the England tour. While Suryansh Shedge, Prince Yadav and Prasidh Krishna, who were part of the England tour, have not been picked, Bumrah, Arshdeep and Varun have been included.
Harshit Rana, meanwhile, has been named subject to fitness clearance. All-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar have also been included, with their availability dependent on fitness.
The series will be played entirely in New Delhi, with the three T20Is scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17.
India’s squad for Afghanistan T20Is
Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana***
Subject to fitness clearance
