The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced changes to India’s squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on January 21. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and batter Shreyas Iyer have been named as replacements for the injured Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma. According to an official BCCI release, Shreyas Iyer’s inclusion is limited to the first three matches of the series.
“Washington Sundar underwent scans after reporting an acute onset discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on 11 January. This was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert. He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further management of his injury,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Washington Sundar has been ruled out after sustaining an injury during the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11. The all-rounder reported acute discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling. Subsequent scans and an in-person consultation with a medical expert confirmed a side strain. As a precaution, Sundar has been advised to take rest for a few days. Tilak Varma, meanwhile, has been ruled him out of at least the first three T20Is.
India T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi