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India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been given the responsibility to lead Indians on their tour to Ireland in July this year. With India’s regular skipper Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant busy with England series and KL Rahul injured, Pandya has been given the responsibility to take over the leadership role in the two-match T20I series. Notably, Pandya is currently playing Rishabh Pant’s deputy in India’s series against South Africa.
Earlier a report carried by PTI cited a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source who said: "While there is Dinesh Karthik, who is the senior-most player in the squad along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, it was Hardik, who was Pant's designated deputy and hence favourite to lead."
India's squad for T20I series against Ireland: Hardik Pandya (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (vc), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
Cheteshwar Pujara to open alongside Rohit in Rahul’s absence?
The report further revealed that KL Rahul will not be traveling to England for the fifth rescheduled Test as the cricketer is still recovering from a groin injury. With Rahul out of the tour, the main question is who will partner with captain Rohit Sharma at the top? The BCCI official also gave a hint about who can be India’s second opener in Rahul’s absence.
The official took Shubman Gill’s name as well as Cheteshwar Pujara's to take the empty opening slot. "You have Shubman Gill, who has opened in most of his Test matches. Else, Cheteshwar Pujara can also open the batting, in case there are any fitness issues for any of the two openers. It was a 17-member squad and 16 will be going. So that's not a problem," the source added.