After losing the Ireland T20I series 0-2, India have a problem or two up their sleeve, come the IND vs ENG T20I and ODI series. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is yet to regain full fitness, is out of the 20-over format series, and now is in race against time to be fully fit for the ODIs.
As per a report in Times of India, the BCCI medical team has advised him extended period of rest; he is yet to begin his rehab. He is undergoing a quadriceps injury, and has been out of action since the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai. It is still not certain though, if he will be fit in time for the ODI series starting on July 14.
The selectors will have to take a call, whether to play him in the ODIs, or the Zimbabwe T20Is to follow. On the other hand, a few of the Indian players, including Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are likely to arrive early, and start their preparations for the series. The others could might reach England by July 12.
Varun Chakravarthy in England
There is still no formal update on the foot injury status of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. He has missed the IRE series for the same reason, and there are no reports on him too. But that said, Varun is in England already, and posted a story on Instagram, informing his fans, that he is in Durham.
Even though he might not be fit for the July 1, 1st T20I at Chester-le-Street, but then it is a 5-match series, and should be able to get some game time.
India cricket team for England T20s: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakravarthy, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
India squad for England ODIs: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar.
