Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and opener Shikhar Dhawan have been drafted back into the India squad for the two upcoming home series – three T20Is vs Sri Lanka (from January 5) and three ODIs against Australia (from January 14). Rohit Sharma, who has enjoyed a phenomenal 2019 across all formats, has been afforded rest in the first series of the new year – against Sri Lanka.
A lower-back stress fracture has kept Bumrah out of action since the completion of India’s tour of West Indies in August, where he starred with 13 wickets in two Tests. He missed the home assignments against South Africa and Bangladesh – which involved Tests and T20Is. After a lengthy rehabilitation, Bumrah is now back to full fitness and even bowled in the nets before India’s ODI against West Indies in Visakhapatnam.
Dhawan, who had missed more than half of the 2019 World Cup with a thumb injury, returned to action in West Indies and played the home series against Bangladesh too before suffering another setback last month. Dhawan suffered a deep cut to his knee while putting in a full-length dive to get back to the crease in a Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament and needed multiple stitches. He has now recovered from that layoff, returning to both the T20I and the ODI sides.
While Dhawan takes Rohit’s spot in the T20I squad, Bumrah walks in, in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who missed the West Indies ODIs because of a groin injury. In the ODI squad, Dhawan’s returns mean Mayank Agarwal – who came in as the left-hander’s replacement against West Indies – goes out.
Bumrah comes in for Deepak Chahar, who has now been sidelined until April 2020 due to a stress fracture to his lower back. Kedar Jadhav, who scored 40, 16* and 9 in the games against West Indies, has retained his place in the squad.
Squad for Australia ODIs V Kohli (Capt), R Sharma (vc), S Dhawan, KL Rahul, S Iyer, M Pandey, K Jadhav, R Pant (wk), S Dube, R Jadeja, Y Chahal, K Yadav, N Saini, J Bumrah, S Thakur, Mohd. Shami
