Backing youngster Arshdeep Singh to the hilt, the Indian selectors today included the left-arm pacer in the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup which starts in Australia next month.
With Jasprit Bumrah making a return and experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel also in the team, the Indian pace battery looks quite formidable in the pacer-friendly conditions Down Under.
Arshdeep, the fast bowler from Punjab who was recently targeted by the ISI-backed Pakistani social media campaign during the Asia Cup, has impressed many with his economical spells during the death overs.
Interestingly, Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar have been kept as stand-byes for the T20 World Cup along with Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
India opens its campaign in the tournament by taking on arch-rivals Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23.
Barring the much-expected return of players returning from injury, there were no major surprises in store as India gear up for the World Cup by playing T20Is against Australia and South Africa.
The selectors also showed faith in Dinesh Karthik picking him as the second wicket-keeper along with Rishabh Pant in the squad led by Rohit Sharma with K L Rahul as his deputy.
R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel – who came in as a replacement for injured Ravindra Jadeja in Dubai – will take care of the spin department.
27-year-old Deepak Hooda, having an impressive strike rate of 155.85 in the 12 T20Is he has played so far, will be hoping to unleash his good form against Australia and South Africa to become a certainty in the Indian middle order during the World Cup along with Hardik Pandya.
Meanwhile, BCCI also announced on Monday that Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be reporting to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore for conditioning-related work during the course of the home series against Australia and South Africa.
India squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
Standby players: Mohd. Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.
India Squad for Australia T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
India squad for South Africa T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
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