While the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team that won the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup will arrive in India to celebrate their victory, Khaleel Ahmed and Rinku Singh will not be a part of them. Khaleel Ahmed and Rinku Singh will travel to Zimbabwe directly from Barbados to participate in the IND vs ZIM T20I series.
Rinku Singh and Khaleel Ahmed were the roving reserves for Team India at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. However, they did not get a chance to replace any player as neither of them were injured during the tournament.
Rohit Sharma-led Indian team won eight consecutive matches to lift the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 trophy. They crushed South Africa in the final by 7 runs to claim the title of the new T20I champions. The team will now travel back home on Thursday, July 4.
Rinku Singh and Khaleel Ahmed to leave for Zimbabwe from Barbados
A BCCI source informed News18 that Rinku Singh and Khaleel Ahmed will travel directly to Zimbabwe for the IND vs ZIM T20I series.
Khaleel Ahmed and Rinku Singh to arrive in Zimbabwe from Barbados for IND vs ZIM series
“Yes, both Khaleel (Ahmed) and Rinku (Singh) have left for Zimbabwe as they were in the squad for the first two matches. The rest will travel to Delhi first,” the BCCI source said.
Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube were also expected to travel to Zimbabwe for the tour. BCCI also included them in the initial squad. However, the trio will first travel to India and then leave for Zimbabwe for the last three games of the T20I.
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Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana contributed in the first two games
As a result, BCCI has named Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana as their replacements for the first two games.
“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Sai Sudharsan, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana as replacements for Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe.”
“Originally scheduled to join the Zimbabwe-bound squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series beginning on Saturday, July 6, the trio will first travel to India with the rest of the ICC T20 World Cup-winning Indian squad before departing for Harare,” a BCCI statement said.
Hurricane Beryl delays Indian team’s arrival in India
Meanwhile, Hurricane Beryl has delayed the return of the Indian team from Barbados. Due to the hurricane, the team is stuck inside the team hotel on the Caribbean island. They will board the flight on Wednesday evening and reach India early Thursday morning.
Rohit Sharma & Boys will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi after arriving in New Delhi. PM Modi had also met them after the defeat in the final of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in November last year. However, this time, it will be a celebratory event for clinching an ICC title after 11 years.