India's T20 International cricket squad has seen two significant additions ahead of their series against England. Shivam Dube and Ramandeep Singh have been included in the lineup, stepping in for Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh, who have both been ruled out due to injuries. Nitish Kumar Reddy sustained a side strain during a training session, thereby excluding him from the five-match series. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh is dealing with lower back spasms incurred while fielding in the first T20I, marking his absence for at least the second and third matches of the series.
The second T20I is scheduled to take place later today in Chennai, with Dube and Ramandeep available starting from the third encounter. Reddy's recovery plan includes a visit to the BCCI's recently established Centre of Excellence, situated within the National Cricket Academy's facilities on the outskirts of Bengaluru. This center is designed to support rehabilitation efforts and facilitate the recovery of players before their return to competitive play.
Shivam Dube's last representation for the Indian team was in August 2024 during an ODI series held in Sri Lanka. Following that, he missed the home T20I series against Bangladesh due to a back injury. However, Dube made his return to competitive cricket through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he demonstrated a commendable performance by accumulating 151 runs across five innings, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 179.76. In addition to his batting skills, he contributed with the ball, taking three wickets at an economy rate of 9.31. Overall, his T20I career statistics include 33 matches, with 448 runs scored at a strike rate of 134.93 and 11 wickets taken.
Dube’s contributions were pivotal during India's successful campaign in the T20 World Cup last year, hosted in the West Indies and the USA. In stark contrast, Ramandeep Singh's international experience is limited to just two matches for India, which he played last November during a tour of South Africa. In domestic circuit play, particularly during the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ramandeep accumulated 126 runs across six innings, showcasing his ability to deliver quick runs, reflected in his strike rate of 134.04.
Both players were involved in the recent Ranji Trophy matches, with Dube representing Mumbai in a contest against Jammu and Kashmir that concluded Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, he had an underwhelming performance in that match, failing to score in either innings and contributing only one wicket as Mumbai suffered a close five-wicket defeat. Ramandeep also faced a disappointing outing in the Ranji Trophy, where he recorded scores of 16 and a duck in Punjab's heavy loss against Karnataka.
India commenced their T20I series against England on a victorious note, winning the first match convincingly in Kolkata by seven wickets, completing the chase with 43 balls to spare. In that match, Nitish Kumar Reddy did not have an opportunity to contribute significantly; he fulfilled fielding duties by taking two catches but was not called on to bat or bowl. Similarly, Rinku Singh remained an unused player during the game, with the team’s top order executing a successful chase of 133 runs.
With the team adjustments made in light of injury issues, the updated T20I squad for India includes Suryakumar Yadav serving as captain, with Axar Patel as vice-captain. Other members include wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Dhruv Jurel joining the recently included Dube and Ramandeep Singh. This reshuffled lineup reflects India's commitment to maintaining a strong competitive edge in the ongoing series.
The series against England not only provides an opportunity for Dube and Ramandeep to showcase their skills but also reinforces the depth of talent within Indian cricket. It highlights the continuous evolution of the team as they navigate challenges posed by injuries and personal performance dynamics in the fast-paced world of international cricket. As the remaining matches unfold, all eyes will be on these players to make a significant impact, further solidifying India's standing in the T20I arena.