Back in Action: Jasprit Bumrah to lead Team India in T20I to

Great news for Indian cricket fans as the talented Jasprit Bumrah makes a full-fledged comeback to the India squad, and this time, as captain for the upcoming T20Is in Ireland this August. Adding to the team's firepower, Prasidh Krishna has also earned a spot in the squad for the three games in Dublin. Bumrah, who hasn't played any cricket since the T20I series against Australia at home in September last year, has been diligently working on his recovery at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. After undergoing surgery for a back injury in New Zealand, he has been gradually increasing his bowling workload. The NCA staff, led by VVS Laxman, has been monitoring his progress and is satisfied with his current form.

There were discussions about whether Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was appointed captain for the 2023 Asian Games, should lead the team in Ireland to ease Bumrah's workload. However, it's been revealed that Bumrah himself was enthusiastic about leading the squad. This isn't the first time he's taken on the captaincy role; Bumrah previously captained India in the Birmingham Test against England last year. As for Prasidh Krishna, he's making a remarkable return to the squad after undergoing extensive rehabilitation for a lumbar stress fracture, which had sidelined him from all cricket since the tour of Zimbabwe in August 2022. Although surgery wasn't initially recommended, he eventually underwent the procedure in December after further assessment. Prasidh had proven to be a valuable bowler in the middle overs during ODIs, with his height, pace, and ability to hit hard lengths.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently confirmed that both Bumrah and Prasidh are in top form and have been bowling with full intensity during net sessions. Interestingly, many players selected for the T20 cricket competition in the Asian Games have also made it to the Ireland tour. However, the regulars in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) were given some rest to prepare for the Asia Cup, scheduled to begin on August 30 in Sri Lanka, just a week after the final T20I match in Ireland on August 23. To gear up for the challenges ahead, the team management is considering a conditioning camp in Bengaluru before departing for Sri Lanka.

Apart from Gaikwad, several players who had impressive IPL seasons have been included in the squad. Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube are among those who showcased their talent during the IPL and have been rewarded with a place in the team. Gaikwad, who was Chennai Super Kings' second-highest run-scorer with 590 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 147.50, particularly had an outstanding season. The Ireland tour will see seven members from India's T20I squad for the Caribbean tour, including seamers Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh, making it to the final team. Additionally, India has some excellent spin-bowling options in Ravi Bishnoi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Washington Sundar. With the return of Bumrah and Krishna and the inclusion of promising talents, Indian fans can look forward to an action-packed and competitive T20I series in Ireland. Let's hope the team continues to excel and brings glory to the nation on the international stage!