Rinku Singh ignored as BCCI announces India's squad for WI T20Is

Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team.

India have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming 5-match T20I series against West Indies in Caribbean islands and the USA. Hardik Pandya is set to lead the Indian squad and be groomed for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the same venue in 2024. The T20I series between India and West Indies is scheduled to begin on 3rd August at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

India have picked IPL 2023 superstar Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal is already in the West Indies as part of the Indian test squad. Mumbai Indians middle order batter Tilak Verma has also earned his first-ever national call-up after consistent IPL performance. Rinku Singh has not found a place in India’s 15-member T20 squad. 

This was the first selection by the newly appointed chairman of the selection panel Ajit Agarkar. Gujarat Titans' skipper Hardik Pandya will be leading the Indian T20I side and this selection has made a few things clear about India’s future T20 camp.

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin all have been rested from the tour. The selection committee has given a clear signal as they are moving ahead in this format with youngsters. Rinku Singh's non-inclusion is a surprise to many. He did a magnificent job for Kolkata Knight Riders and ended up as the leading scorer for the team in the IPL 2023. 

Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, and newcomer Mukesh Kumar will take responsibility for the pace bowling attack. Mukesh Kumar is also part of the test squad. Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Axar Patel are picked as spinners. As Ravindra Jadeja is out of the squad, Axar Patel will take the role of all-rounder at Number 7. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are the two wicket-keepers in the squad. Jasprit Bumrah is still not fit and may come back on India’s Ireland tour. Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as Hardik Pandya’s deputy for the tour. India will play 5 games in the series. 

India’s 15-member squad for the West Indies 

Hardik Pandya (c), Suryakumar Yadav (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik,