Fresh faces' inclusion steals the spotlight as BCCI announce Indian squad for T20Is against West Indies

Top performances in IPL 2023 seems to have played a key role in getting youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma their maiden international call-ups as BCCI announced the squad for the upcoming T20Is against West Indies. In a series that will feature five matches, the selectors have opted for some young blood to be tested, while seasoned stars in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have not been picked. 

Hardik Pandya has been announced as the skipper for the T20Is while Suryakumar Yadav will be his deputy for the five-match series. 

As the new selection panel of India came into effect, this was the first squad that was chosen by them, one that seems to go by the philosophy of "go hard or go home" from ball one, underlined by the approach both Jaiswal and Varma showcased throughout IPL 2023. 

Exciting opener Shubman Gill retains his spot in the side while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have been picked as the two wicket-keepers for the series.

As far as the bowling department goes, it is an entirely fresh squad except the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who have formed quite a formidable duo for India in the past.

Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Umran Malik and Mukesh Kumar are the names who have been tasked with manning India’s pace-mafia against the resonant hard-hitters of West Indies. Axar Patel, the hero of the last series that India played against West Indies in the latter’s den is also amongst the seniors who have been named as part of the Indian squad.

India T20I squad: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (vice-capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya (capt), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.