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[Saba Sports News] The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is poised to unveil the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia, commencing on November 23 in Visakhapatnam, immediately following the conclusion of the ODI World Cup 2023.
In a recent media report, it is strongly indicated that the numero uno T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, is set to don the captain’s hat for this series. The official squad announcement is expected on Tuesday, November 21, as reported by The Indian Express.
Suryakumar will take charge in the absence of the versatile all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is likely to sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained during the World Cup match against Bangladesh.
Given the unavailability of several Indian players participating in the ODI World Cup for the T20I series, those who showcased their skills in the three matches against Ireland in August are likely to get another opportunity against the formidable Australian line-up.
Despite being a strong contender, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who led the men’s cricket team to a gold medal in the Asian Games 2023, will not captain this time, as selectors have opted for Suryakumar.
In terms of potential inclusions in the T20I squad, spin maestro Yuzvendra Chahal, all-rounder Axar Patel, and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who missed out on the World Cup 2023, are expected to feature against Matthew Wade’s Australian side.
Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Ishan Kishan, who are a part of the World Cup contingent, could also make appearances in the upcoming T20I series.
The home series also presents an opportunity for emerging talents, with players such as Rinku Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan likely to be selected in the T20I squad.