Indian cricket team, after registering a comprehensive win in the Asia Cup final over Sri Lanka on Sunday, will head home before reassembling for the series vs Australia. The first ODI of three-match series is scheduled to be held in Mohali and the team will assemble there on September 20.
“There will be individual departures… most likely players will head back home before ODIs vs Australia,” says a BCCI official.
India’s squad for the Australia series is yet to be announced and the Asia Cup-winning team is likely to be retained. There could be an addition in the spin bowling department because of Axar Patel’s injury.
Washington Sundar replaced him for the Asia Cup final and there could well be a tossup between him and R Ashwin for the spinning all-rounder spot.
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“Team will be picked soon for the series and boys will be asked to assemble in Mohali on September 20,” adds the official.
Shreyas Iyer is expected to retain his place despite missing his place in the XI for the Super 4 stage and final of Asia Cup 2023. After the Asia Cup triumph, skipper Rohit Sharma asserted that Shreyas is 99 per cent fit and said that he is not a worry at the moment.
“Shreyas was not available for this game (Asia Cup Final) because certain parameters were kept for him to tick off. I think today, he completed most of it. I should say he is alright 99 percent as of now. But he looks good, he batted and fielded for long hours, and he was on the ground long before we came to the ground. I don’t think it is a worry for us,” said Rohit in the post-match press conference.
Meanwhile, Australia have already announced their squad for the ODI series as Pat Cummins will be returning to lead the team after missing the South Africa tour. Apart from him, other senior players including Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith will also return to the side after recovering from their respective injuries.
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Travis Head has not been picked in the squad after he sustained a fracture on left-hand during fourth ODI against South Africa.
Head faces a tight deadline to be fit for the World Cup as he is set to fly home to Australia.
“Surgery is understood to be one of the options considered for the opening batter. Even if he does not go under the knife, the 29-year-old appears to be in a race against time to feature at the World Cup, which begins in three weeks,” read Cricket Australia’s statement as they announced the squad.
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