Reports: Harshal Patel, Venkatesh Iyer and Shivam Mavi may join Indian team to support T20 WC training

The Indian team management is considering to have RCB medium-pacer Harshal Patel, KKR opener Venkatesh Iyer and pacer Shivam Mavi for supporting the team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, which gets underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from October 17.

Notably, SRH pacer Umran Malik has already been named as net bowler after an impressive stint in the IPL this year. Much like Malik, all three in Patel, Iyer and Mavi have performed well for their teams, who both qualified for the playoffs.

A Cricbuzz reports dated October 11 states that at least two of them can be expected to be asked to stay back in Dubai, where the Indian players are quarantining currently ahead of the tournament. “The instructions will be relayed after Monday’s Eliminator so that the player(s) will not exit the bubble and instead transfer from one bubble to another,” the report adds.

Further it is learned that the Super12 teams have time until October 15 to finalize their squads for the T20 World Cup. “Teams can change their teams seven days prior to the start of their support period. India’s support period starts with the Super 12 which begin on Oct 23. So, they have time to change the team till Oct 15 midnight,” a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source was quoted as saying by TOI.

Doubts remain over Hardik Pandya’s participation

“It’s not decided if Hardik will be dropped altogether if he doesn’t get bowling ready. But he is running out of time as an allrounder. If any one of Thakur and Deepak gets in, then there’s a chance of the selectors asking Harshal Patel to stay back in UAE,” the BCCI source added.

“The selectors will wait and watch on how Hardik shapes up in the next few days. The selectors went with just three genuine pacers because it was believed Hardik would be fit enough to bowl his quota of overs. Since he hasn’t bowled at all in the IPL, there’s no form to go by.”

India, who are placed in Group B, will kickstart their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24.