IND vs SL 2nd T20I: India left with only 5 batsmen, Devdutt Padikkal set to make debut – Team India is all set to take on the field in the 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka with just five batsmen in the playing XI as the rest of the batters were ruled out of the match due to close contact with Krunal Pandya who Tested positive a day before the game. Royal Challengers Banglore’s opening batsman Devdutt Padikal will be playing his debut match on Wednesday. India coach for the Sri Lanka tour Rahul Dravid revealed that India is left with only 11 players and Team India will play the match with them. Shikhar Dhawan led side had to make seven changes in the playing XI.
🚨 NEWS 🚨: Additions to #TeamIndia squad in Sri Lanka for last two T20Is. #SLvIND
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— BCCI (@BCCI) July 28, 2021
IND vs SL 2nd T20I: “Unfortunately the close contacts of Krunal won’t be playing a part in the series. We have 11 players to choose and we will have to play them. There is nothing to feel sorry about. All the 11 are good enough to make the 11 and that’s why they were picked in the squad. I feel it is exciting to see them perform. Yes, the balance of the side will be a little fragile because we can only pick from the players available,” Rahul Dravid told ahead of the game.
🎥Big moment for the 4⃣! 👏 👏
T20I caps handed over to @devdpd07, @Ruutu1331, @NitishRana_27 & @Sakariya55! 👍 👍 #TeamIndia #SLvIND
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/Hsbf9yWCCh pic.twitter.com/E4OzrlG4Sx
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 28, 2021
With Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Rana, Chetan Sakariya will also be making their T20I debut for Team India in the second game of the series.
After Krunal Pandya was tested positive for COVID-19 on July 27th, all members of the team and support staff were immediately isolated and tested as a safety measure. The test results for everyone including the eight identified close contacts of Krunal returned negative. Following the test on 27th July, a Rapid Antigen test was also conducted today (28th July) at noon and they have all returned negative results.
However, to ensure health and safety of the squad, the 8 close contacts will continue to remain in isolation in the team hotel. The remaining T20Is will go on as per the schedule.
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson(w), Nitish Rana, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakravarthy
