Hardik Pandya-Led Indian Side Selected For Ireland Series, Could Play England T20Is Too - Reports

The Indian team led by Hardik Pandya which is supposed to play the 2-match T20I series against Ireland this weekend might also end up playing the 3-match T20I series against England.

As per reports, the gap between the conclusion of the one-off Test and the first T20I isn’t sufficient enough for the players on the Test team. Therefore, plans are in place to have Hardik and co. take over.

“The rescheduled fifth Test between India and England is supposed to be held in Birmingham from July 1-5, while the first T20I of the England series will take place only two days later, on July 7 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.”

“It will be difficult for the players involved in the Test to switch to the T20Is at such short notice. In such a scenario, the squad picked for the two T20Is in Ireland has been asked to go to England after that short series, since that outfit will be in T20 mode,” a source was quoted as saying to TOI.

Notably, the squad meant for the Ireland series will also be playing two warmup games against the local counties during India’s solitary Test match.

“This side will, in fact, play two T20 warmup matches against local sides while the ‘main’ Indian team will be playing the Test match against the hosts at the same time,” the source also added.

India’s squad for Ireland series:

Hardik Pandya (Captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

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