The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday (4 January) announced that wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a knee injury. Vidarbha wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma has been added to the squad as a cover for Samson. Meanwhile, Samson getting ruled out has opened the door of opportunity for Rahul Tripathi.
The swashbuckling batter who has been waiting for a long time to make his debut at the international level might finally get a chance in the second T20I against Sri Lanka on Thursday (5 January). Although Jitesh Sharma has been added to the squad, Tripathi will get preference as the Maharashtra cricketer has been in the scheme of things for a longer period of time. Also, Tripathi is more suited to bat at No.4 position in absence of Samson.
Coming to Samson’s injury, BCCI said that the wicketkeeper batter has been advised rest and rehabilitation by the BCCI Medical Team. “Team India wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson has been ruled out of the remainder of the 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. Samson hurt his left knee while attempting to field a ball near the boundary ropes during the 1st T20I at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai,” BCCI said in a release.
“He was taken for scans and a specialist opinion this afternoon in Mumbai by the BCCI Medical Team and has been advised rest and rehabilitation.”
India’s updated squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar
