All The 11 Are Good Enough To Make The 11 And That's Why They Were Picked In The Squad: Team India Coach Rahul Dravid

Indian head coach Rahul Dravid has said that while it is fortunate for the visitors to miss out on their first-choice players, the players who will be replacing them are equally capable and they have earned the right to don the national cap.

Covid-19 hit the Indian cap on Tuesday morning when it was revealed that spin-bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya has tested positive for the Wuhan virus.

The game was eventually abandoned for the day with the entire squad isolated. Eight individuals were identified as Krunal Pandya’s close contacts and while each of them tested negative for the virus, they have been barred from participating in the second T2OI on Wednesday.

As a result, the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Manish Pandey and Yuzvendra Chahal will be unavailable for the second T20I.

The likes of Chetan Sakariya, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Nitish Rana have been handed their maiden T20I caps while skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Sanju Samson are the two most experienced batters in the playing XI.

Speaking to the host broadcaster ahead of the second T20I, Rahul Dravid said that there is nothing to feel sorry about that each and every player that has been handed the maiden cap deserves it wholeheartedly.

With just five specialist batters available, Dravid did admit that the balance of the side might go for the toss.

”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,” said Rahul Dravid.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka has won the toss, and just like the first game, he has decided to insert India in.