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BCCI Treasurer Arun Dhumal made a big statement about former India captain Virat Kohli, as he said that the player’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup is all up to the selectors. This is an interesting turn considering the Indian squad for Asia Cup will be announced on Monday.

Arun Dhumal talked about how Kohli is a great player but the call about his inclusion in the team will be taken by the selection committee. “Virat is not a simple player. He is a great player. His contribution to Indian cricket is unparalleled. We want Virat Kohli to come back to form as soon as possible. When it comes to the team selection, we leave it to the selectors. It is their call how to go about it,” Arun Dhumal said in a YouTube video.

Arun Dhumal was also asked about Virat Kohli giving up the captaincy role, to which he said it was completely Kohli’s call. Dhumal also addressed that the BCCI respected his decision and moved ahead.

“As far as his captaincy is concerned, it was his call, He did not want to continue with it. We respected that decision. He has contributed so much in Indian cricket, and everyone respects him,” added Arun Dhumal.

Talking about Monday’s meeting, reports suggest that top-order batter and first-choice vice-captain KL Rahul is expected to take his place back in the Indian team along with fast bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar when the squad will be selected for the Asia Cup on 8 August.

The Asia Cup will be a T20 tournament in Dubai and Sharjah from 27 August to 11 September. KL Rahul was set to make a comeback for the ODI series in Zimbabwe. But he got infected with COVID-19 and delayed his recovery from the sports hernia surgery he underwent recently in Germany.

India squad for Asia Cup (in contention):

Certainties: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Back-Up batters: Deepak Hooda/Ishan Kishan/Sanju Samson

Back-Up fast bowlers: Arshdeep Singh/Avesh Khan/Deepak Chahar/Harshal Patel.

Back-Up spinners: Axar Patel/Kuldeep Yadav/Ravi Bishnoi.