India star to miss West Indies T20Is; replacement named

KL Rahul, who was rehabilitating from a groin injury, will miss the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. He tested positive for COVID-19 last week and was advised rest by the Indian team's medical department. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who featured in all the three ODIs against the West Indies, has been named as his replacement.

Rahul's inclusion for the T20I leg of the tour was subject to fitness but with his positive COVID test, his comeback into the Indian squad has been further delayed.

Sanju Samson, his replacement, performed reasonably well during the three-match ODI series against the West Indies.

A statement from the BCCI read: "The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson as a replacement for KL Rahul in the T20I squad for the ongoing West Indies series.

"KL Rahul was earlier named in the squad and his participation in the T20I series was subject to fitness. The batter tested positive for COVID-19 last week and has been advised rest by the BCCI medical team. Sanju Samson was part of the squad in the recently concluded ODI series that the team won 3-0."

Rahul has been nursing a groin injury since the end of the IPL and underwent surgery. Samson, his replacement, performed reasonably well during the ODIs, scoring one half-century. The visitors completed a whitewash in the ODIs, despite missing several key members.

Despite Rahul's absence, India will be bolstered by the return of many players during the T20I leg of the tour, including skipper Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Fixtures:

First T20I: July 29

Second T20I: August 1

Third T20I: August 2

Fourth T20I: August 6

Fifth T20I: August 7