Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kartik Tyagi, Natarajan and Ishan Porel to travel with India squad to Australia as reserve bowlers

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the India tour of Australia. The Virat Kohli-led side is all set to travel down under after the conclusion of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). India is scheduled to play three ODIs, as many T20Is and four Tests against Australia from next month starting from November 26. Though the schedule is yet to be announced officially, it is speculated that the tour will be two-months long.

One massive blow for the Indian team is that the limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma hasn’t been picked as of now owing to a hamstring injury. Similarly, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma are also absent from the squad due to injuries. Both the pacers were also ruled out of the ongoing 2020 edition of the T20 extravaganza.

Rishabh Pant’s name is also not there in the squad for ODI and T20I series. It is speculated that Pant has been termed unfit by the Indian board owing to his physique and weight. However, the wicketkeeper-batsman has been included in the squad for the longest format of the game. Apart from a large touring squad, the selectors have picked additional pacers who will travel with the team.

Nagarkoti and Tyagi have impressed in the IPL

As the tour is expected to be two months long and players would have to follow the quarantine rules before joining the bio-bubble, BCCI has named four extra bowlers especially pacers, who would be travelling with the team and can come handy in case any injury or other mishap happens.

Three picks out of the four names have been purely based on their performance in IPL 2020. The trio of Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kartik Tyagi and T Natarajan have been impressive in IPL thus far and are playing a vital role for their IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. Ishan Porel, on the other hand, is backed by his stellar records in the domestic circuit.

BCCI tweeted, “NEWS – Four additional bowlers – Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kartik Tyagi, Ishan Porel and T. Natarajan – will travel with the Indian contingent. The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor the progress of Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma.”

NEWS – Four additional bowlers – Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kartik Tyagi, Ishan Porel and T. Natarajan – will travel with the Indian contingent.

The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor the progress of Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma. #AUSvIND

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 26, 2020