Indian Premier League-winning captain Hardik Pandya will have an opportunity to showcase his leadership skills for India in the Ireland T20I series. Rahul Tripathi received his maiden call-up while Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson are also back.
India announced a 17-member squad for the tour of Ireland, where they are slated to play two T20 internationals. With several players unavailable for the series due to India’s one-off Test against England at Edgbaston, Pandya has been given an opportunity to showcase the leadership skills he displayed in Gujarat Titans‘ title-winning campaign in IPL 2022.
Tripathi finally received his call-up to the Indian side, having scored 413 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022 at an average of 37.54 while striking at 158. His attacking approach from the get-go in particular earned him plaudits, with several experts backing him to be included in the Indian side.
“It is a very big opportunity, a dream come true. I am very happy that the selectors and everybody believed in me and whatever hard-work I have put in, I have got the rewards. And hopefully, if I get an opportunity to play, I will try and give my best,”
Tripathi was quoted as per PTI.
Suryakumar Yadav returns to the side after recovering from the forearm injury, which forced him to sit out of the closing stage of the IPL and the ongoing T20 series against South Africa. Wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson has also been recalled.
The rest of the squad is as expected, with Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer the only two exclusions. The duo is part of India’s Test squad in England. VVS Laxman will be the coach of India for the Ireland tour in the absence of the head coach Rahul Dravid, who will be with the Test side.
India are currently trailing 2-1 in the five-match series against South Africa. There is only a five days’ gap between the end of the SA series and the start of the Ireland series. The two T20Is are set to be played in Malahide on June 26 and 28.
