Indian batter KL Rahul has been cleared to play the ODI series against Zimbabwe after passing fitness test and he has replaced Shikhar Dhawan as captain for the three-match series. Dhawan has now been moved to the vice-captaincy role.

Rahul has been added to the squad and he will lead the national team. The flamboyant batsman will return to action after leading Lucknow Super Giants to the playoff stages in the IPL.

“The BCCI Medical Team has assessed KL Rahul and cleared him to play in the upcoming three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has appointed him the captain of the side and named Shikhar Dhawan as his deputy,” the BCCI was quoted as saying in a statement.

Rahul is also part of the Asia Cup squad and he will look to get crucial game time under his belt in the series against Zimbabwe.

After the IPL, Rahul was expected to lead India in the five-match T20I series against South Africa but he was ruled out with a groin injury. Subsequently, he underwent Sports Hernia surgery in Germany, and then he, unfortunately, tested positive for Covid-19.

Thus, the Karnataka batter had missed the series against Ireland, England, and West Indies and he will look to hit the ground running against Zimbabwe. Rahul had last played for the Indian team in the ODI series against West Indies in February.

The first ODI between Zimbabwe and India will be played at the Harare Sports Club, Harare on 18th August.

India ODI squad for Zimbabwe ODIs: KL Rahul (c), Shikhar Dhawan (vc), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd Siraj, Deepak Chahar