Ishan Kishan replaces KL Rahul in India's squad for WTC final; BCCI provides injury update on Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat
Ishan Kishan has been added to the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final match against Australia. The uncapped Test player replaces KL Rahul in the team.
The BCCI named Rahul in the original Indian squad for the WTC final. However, the right-handed batter suffered an injury while fielding for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing IPL 2023 season. He injured his right upper thigh during a match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Lucknow.
According to a media release by the BCCI, Rahul will undergo surgery and then head to the National Cricket Academy for rehabilitation. Ishan Kishan will take his place in the squad.
Ishan Kishan replaces injured KL Rahul 🏏
#crickettwitter #wtcfinal #india https://t.co/w0sMZLC2q0
Here is the updated Indian squad:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, and Ishan Kishan (wk).
Ishan Kishan may not be the only replacement in India's squad for WTC Final 2023
It looks like Team India may need a couple more injury replacements because Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat are not 100 percent fit as well. Unadkat hurt his shoulder after an awkward landing during a net session with LSG in IPL 2023. Meanwhile, Umesh has a minor hamstring strain.
The BCCI is yet to decide whether to send Umesh and Unadkat to England as a part of the ICC World Test Championship final squad. The board announced a list of three standby players as well. Mukesh Kumar, who is currently plying trade for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2023, is the only pacer present in that list.
The other two standby players named by the BCCI are opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav.
The ICC World Test Championship final will take place at The Oval, starting on June 7, where India will take on Australia.