India announced its 15-member squad on Wednesday for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies, with Jasprit Bumrah rested and fast bowlers Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav included in the team.
The series will begin on October 6 in Lucknow, only three days after the Asian Games men’s cricket tournament concludes on October 3.
Shreyas Iyer will captain India for the series, while Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are the two wicketkeeping options in the squad.
Bumrah, who was part of India’s T20I squad for the Asian Games, has been given a break for the West Indies series. His absence creates opportunities in the pace department, with Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav joining Arshdeep Singh among the specialist fast-bowling options.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been selected for the five-match T20I series. However, there has been a change to his schedule ahead of the West Indies assignment.
The BCCI announced that the all-rounder will be withdrawn from India’s Asian Games squad and instead added to the ODI squad that will face the West Indies. He will then remain part of the setup for the subsequent T20I series.
India’s batting group includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Samson and Tilak alongside captain Iyer. Shivam Dube and Nitish provide all-round options.
The squad also features several spin choices, with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi all selected.
With the Asian Games and the West Indies series scheduled close together, India will have a short turnaround before the opening T20I in Lucknow.
India T20I squad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav.
