The Indian team in Sri Lanka is already without multiple first-choice players who are all in the UK for the England Test series. However, yesterday on Tuesday, the number of available players reduced further after Krunal Pandya tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The second T20I, which was to be played on July 27 was postponed as a result and instead was rescheduled to Wednesday, July 28, 2021.
This led to 8 other players who were deemed Krunal’s close contacts were also sent into isolation and were ruled out of the remaining matches in the T20I series. These players are- Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Yuzvendra Chahal, K Gowtham, and Deepak Chahar.
This left the Indian squad really thin and all the other negative players were included in the playing XI for the second T20I. This meant India handed debuts to 4 players in Nitish Rana, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Chetan Sakariya.
Speaking on the scarcity of player availability, head coach Rahul Dravid said, “It was felt medically that some of the guys who were his (Krunal's) close contacts shouldn't be participating in the series. We've got 11 to choose from, and all 11 are playing! Brilliant."
Dravid, however, emphasized that he didn't buy the arguments that India caps were being handed out easily and everyone who was picked for the tour has the potential to be part of the playing XI.
"Truly I think when I look at the squad and look at the 20 guys that have been selected here, each one of them has got here through sheer weight of performances. It's not easy in India, there are a lot of people playing cricket, there are lot of very good performances.
People earn the right to come here. It's not every time you're going to be able to give every one of them a chance, but it's really nice to be able to give as many as you can a chance if possible. Due to various reasons, we're probably able to do that this time,” Dravid was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.com.
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He further said that every player in the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tour has earned his place.
“They are earning their India caps. I don't get that argument… what do you mean by 'earning' your India cap? Like I said, if you are selected in a team of 15, obviously with Covid now it's become 20, you are selected keeping in mind that you may need to play in the XI at any given point of time. Could be because of injury or lack of form to any other player. So you've certainly earned the right to get that cap. It's up to you to take the opportunity and you know, perform. I truly believe everyone who is here has earned it,” the head coach added.
The BCCI selection committee has further added the five reserve bowlers who had been taken to Sri Lanka into the main squad after the team management requested them. The five reserve bowlers are Ishan Porel, Sandeep Warrier, Arshdeep Singh, R Sai Kishore, and Simarjeet Singh.
India is playing with only 5 specialized batsmen in playing XI in the second T20I with Bhuvneshwar Kumar coming into bat at no.6. Rahul Dravid said that the squad is great and there is no need to be sorry for them.
“To be very honest, I don't think there's any need to be sorry for us. The squad's great, like I said everyone deserves to be in the XI. Our balance might be a bit compromised this game, but it's a Twenty20 game and I truly believe we have the quality to really put up a good show,” Dravid signed off.
(ESPNCricinfo/ Sony Sports inputs)
