An injury concern has forced the Indian team to rule Shivam Dube out of the ensuing T20I assignment against Bangladesh. Just on the eve of the opening T20I in Gwalior, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a media advisory stating that a ‘back injury’ has prevented Dube from participating in the series. As a result, BCCI has named Tilak Varma as the replacement player for Dube.
Hard luck for Dube, Tilak returns for India
Shivam Dube, who was part of the T20 World Cup 2024 Indian winning team, last featured in the Duleep Trophy match Round 1. It wasn’t a fruitful game for Dube, who made just 20 & 14 across both innings and also went wicketless. Having said that, Dube has been in India’s white-ball plans after the IPL 2024. However, this new back injury has come as a setback as the Men in Blue already have the likes of Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy as proper fast-bowling all-round options.
As for Tilak Varma, this comes as a welcome call-up. The talented southpaw last played for India in earlier this year (January). In fact, Varma has played 16 T20Is for India, mustering 336 runs at a strike rate of nearly 140. While India have used other middle-order batters in recent times, Varma offers a left-hand option and can even roll his arm over. Varma will join the Indian camp in Gwalior on match day morning (Oct 6).
India’s updated squad for the T20I series against Bangladesh:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Tilak Varma