The fifth Test between India and England is scheduled to be played from 1st to 5th July 2022. Notably, the first T20I of the three-match series is slated for 7th July and thus the selection committee has decided that the star players in the Test squad will be given a three-day recovery period before they head out to participate in the Test series.
In such a situation, the Indian squad that played the two-match T20 series in Ireland will play the first T20I against England.
“The squad that played the T20I series in Ireland will remain in the first T20I and then from the second T20I, all the stars (Rohit, if fit, Kohli, Bumrah, Pant, Jadeja) will make a comeback,” according to a source in the BCCI.
“Once they are well-rested, all of them will be a part of the regular white-ball side but most of the players in Ireland will remain till the end of the T20I series.”
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead the Indian Cricket Team for the fifth Test match against England. Rohit Sharma has twice returned with a positive Test for Covid-19 and thus is likely to be ruled out of the fifth Test match.
The last pacer captain that India had was the great Kapil Dev, who was removed from captaincy in 1987. Since then India has never had a speed merchant leading the team in traditional cricket.
“Rohit is out of this Test match, starting July 1, as his RT-PCR test has come positive again. He is still in isolation. Jasprit Bumrah, who is one of the vice-captains in absence of KL Rahul, will lead the team,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Also, Mayank Agarwal has been added to the squad as a cover for Rohit Sharma.
“Mayank is here just as a cover. It is likely to be Pujara-Gill combination that is going to open the batting. There is an outside chance for Hanuma Vihari to open as he has done the job in a stop-gap arrangement in Australia during the 2018 series. But chances of Pujara opening are way more,” he said.
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