India has qualified for the Super 8s stage by winning their first three games in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2024. All of these matches were played at the Nassau County Cricket Ground in New York.
However, India will play its final group stage game against Canada at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida.
Apart from the 15-member squad, the Indian team had 4 traveling reserves as well Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed. These players practiced with the Indian team and cheered them from the stands.
Now Cricbuzz has reported that Shubman Gill and Avesh might fly back home after the USA leg of the tournament completes on Saturday after the match against Canada.
As of Thursday, both players are in Florida, having flown with the team from New York to Fort Lauderdale by a chartered flight on Wednesday. The charter was organized for both the India and USA teams after the game between the sides at Nassau County International Stadium in Long Island on Wednesday afternoon.
As per the report, Shubman Gill and Avesh Khan were to travel with the Indian squad only in the USA leg of the tournament unless there were unexpected injuries to the players. BCCI opted to send in reserve players due to issues and inability to fly in a replacement player at short notice if needed.
However, the report also stated that Shubman and Avesh might be asked to stay back, if any main squad member gets injured during scheduled practice on June 14 or in the game the next day.
However, due to the prevailing inclement weather in Florida, there are chances of rains washing out India’s final league stage game. In addition, there is already Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad as a backup opener, leading to Shubman Gill being sent back.
On the other hand, Avesh might return as the Caribbean leg of the tournament might see India using more spin than pace due to the slowness of wickets.
As of now Rinku and Khaleel may stay on with the squad and travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, where India plays their first Super 8 game on June 20. The other two Super 8 games are in Antigua on June 22 and in St Lucia on June 24.
If India reaches the semi-final, they will play in Georgetown, Guyana, on June 27 with the final scheduled for Bridgetown on June 29.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
