Samson recalled for India-Afghanistan T20Is; Bumrah awaits fitness clearance

Sanju Samson has been recalled to India’s 15-member T20I squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from September 13 to 17. Jasprit Bumrah is included in the squad but his participation remains subject to fitness clearance.

The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter had been dropped from the playing XI after featuring in both T20Is against Ireland and the first T20I of a five-match series against England in June and July. Samson returned to open in the fifth and final T20I versus England but was not selected for the subsequent series against Zimbabwe. His omission followed his being adjudged Player-of-the-Tournament in India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in March. In the final three matches of that tournament his scores were 89, 89 and 97 not out.

Samson will contest an opening slot with Abhishek Sharma and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the upcoming series. The 15-member squad is led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma named vice-captain. The squad includes two designated wicketkeepers, Samson and Ishan Kishan.

Jasprit Bumrah’s recall is described in the squad announcement as a return after injury, but his availability is conditional on fitness clearance. The speedster missed India’s recent Test series win over Sri Lanka because of a knee injury. His inclusion therefore hinges on passing the required medical checks.

All-rounders Nitish Kumar, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana, who are returning from injuries, must also obtain clearance from the medical team at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) to participate in the matches against Afghanistan. The selection notice identifies these players as coming back from injury and subject to medical sign-off.

The squad: Shreyas Iyer (Capt.), Tilak Varma (Vice-capt.), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana*.

* Subject to fitness clearance

India are scheduled to travel to Japan later this month to defend their Asian Games gold, and selectors may look to tread cautiously with their pace spearhead ahead of that assignment.