The Mumbai-based opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been asked to join the India squad for the upcoming WTC final as a stand-by player, where India will face Australia at The Oval on June 7. Jaiswal will be replacing Ruturaj Gaikwad as he is getting married on June 3-4, according to the Indian Express' report. The team management has asked the left-hander to start training with a red ball as he will be flying to London soon since he already has a UK visa.
Jaiswal has been in a red hot form in the 2023 edition of the IPL, scoring 625 runs in 14 matches for Rajasthan Royals. In the Ranji Trophy, he made 404 runs in five games. Earlier, the BCCI included Gaikwad as a stand-by opener for the WTC Final. But then the Maharashtra-based batter reached out to the BCCI and said that he will be joining the team after June 5, but then head coach Rahul Dravid wanted a proper replacement.
“He (Jaiswal) will be joining the Indian team as Gaikwad has informed us that he won’t be able to fly due to his marriage. He would be able to join the team post-June 5. (But) Coach Rahul Dravid took a call, asking the selectors to pick a replacement. So, Jaiswal will now fly to London soon,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.
Meanwhile, the Indian players have started leaving for London in batches. Rohit Sharma alongside Ishan Kishan will be leaving on May 28 while Suryakumar Yadav will fly on May 30th with Mohammed Shami, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Also, the BCCI is set to declare the ICC ODI World Cup schedule during the ICC World Test Championship final, as stated by BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
“As far as the venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup are concerned, each office-bearer will be responsible for each venue. We are looking at all the metros as venues for the tournament,” Shah said.