Gaikwad and Hooda named in the Indian T20I squad as replacements.

Due to injury concerns, vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel will miss the next three-match T20I series against the West Indies, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Deepak Hooda have been included in Rohit Sharma’s T20I squad. India will play three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against the West Indies following the IPL 2022 super auction, which will take place from February 16 to 20 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

KL Rahul, who returned to the ODI team in Ahmedabad on Wednesday after missing the first ODI due to personal reasons, has a hamstring issue. Axar Patel was set to return after missing the South Africa tour owing to an injury suffered against New Zealand at home.

“Rahul suffered an upper left hamstring injury while fielding in the 2nd ODI on February 9, 2022, while Axar has begun the last step of his recovery after recuperating from Covid-19. They will now be sent to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further injury management “The BCCI stated in a press statement.

India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda.