Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Indian men's cricket team, who are currently gearing up for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign has reportedly sent back four net bowlers to India. The four bowlers are believed to be Karn Sharma, Shahbaz Ahmed, Venkatesh Iyer and Krishnappa Gowtham. The said bowlers have apparently already landed in India.
It is being learned that such a decision has been taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the team management to allow the players some game time in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 domestic tournament. The inter-state competition is set to get underway on November 4 and the players who have returned from the national camp in the United Arab Emirates will now join their respective state sides.
They need match practice: BCCI official
"Yes, there won’t be too many net sessions once the tournament starts. The national selectors feel that all the spinners especially would benefit if they go back and play Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for their respective states. They need match practice," a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying on Cricket.com.
It must be noted that among the four bowlers who are said to have returned, only two- Iyer and Ahmed got a chance in the Playing XI of their IPL teams. This could perhaps be also a reason behind sending the players back to India. Sharma and Gowtham, who were both part of the IPL winning Chennai Super Kings side, did not get a game this season.
India vs Pakistan on October 24
Earlier, a separate media report confirmed that Gowtham had left the team's bio-bubble to be with his pregnant wife. Such reports started doing the rounds after Gowtham’s pregnant wife Archana Sundar posted a story on the Instagram story with her husband in which she wrote, "It’s good to be back, home."
For now, the Indian team in the Middle East is focused on their World Cup opener against arch-rivals Pakistan. The two teams will meet at the Dubai International Stadium on October 24. India won both their warm-up matches while Pakistan registered one win and one loss.