(Image source from: crictracker.com)

Indian star cricketer and ex-skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the five T20 series with West Indies that will commence later this month. The 18-member squad has been announced and Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal have been rested. Rohit Sharma will lead the team and KL Rahul will return back to the team if he clears the fitness test. Virat Kohli has been struggling for form and he disappointed in the recent matches. The squad includes Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul*, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.

Ravichandran Ashwin who has been away from a while is returning back to the team. Kuldeep Yadav is subject to fitness and a decision has to be made. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya have been rested for the ODIs and they will play the T20s. Umran Malik did not find a place in the squad. Umran Malik has been decent in the recent T20 series with England. Rohit Sharma backed Virat Kohli several times despite of the lean form. Ishan Kishan has been taken as a reserve opener and the second wicketkeeper for the T20 series with West Indies.

By Siva Kumar