Hardik Pandya To Lead Team India In Two-Match T20I Series In Ireland

India Squad for Ireland Tour: Hardik Pandya will lead the Indian side against Ireland.

India's Hardik Pandya (R) throws the ball as Bhuvneshwar Kumar watches during the match (Source: AFP)

New Delhi: The Indian cricket team has appointed IPL-winning captain Hardik Pandya as a captain of the Indian team for the upcoming Ireland tour where they will play 2 T20Is from June 26. It has been decided that Pant will not be playing the two T20 Internationals against Ireland and hence Hardik, who is his deputy for the South Africa series, will lead the side against Ireland. 

🚨 NEWS 🚨: India’s squad for T20I series against Ireland announced.#TeamIndia

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2022

"While there is Dinesh Karthik, who is the senior-most player in the squad along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, it was Hardik, who was Pant's designated deputy and hence favourite to lead," according to the latest announced squad.

In Pant's absence, India has two keepers in Ishan Kishan and Karthik in the squad.

Senior opener KL Rahul has been ruled out of the 5th Test against England in Birmingham next week due to a groin injury. Due to this injury, he is out of the T20 series against South Africa as well. 

South Africa took a 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first two matches, although in the third T20, India returned and opened the account of victory. The fourth T20 match of the series will be played on June 17 at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot.

India’s T20I squad: 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