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Indian team management has released three travelling reserves from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, and they’re now set to play in the 2024-25 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
India release three travelling reserves from Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad. (Picture Credit: AFP)
The Indian cricket team has decided to release three travelling reserves—Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Navdeep Saini—from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, and the trio is now set to return to India to take part in the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for their domestic sides. The 2025 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy is set to start on December 21, and the matches will be played across 18 venues in eight host cities.
According to a report in the Times of India on Sunday, December 15, the team management feels that it will be better for the three players to get some game time under their belt because now only two Tests are left to play in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the ongoing third match at The Gabba in Brisbane.
Mukesh and Saini were named as travelling reserves when India’s squad was announced for the five-match Test series Down Under in October 2024, whereas Dayal was added later as a replacement for Khaleel Ahmed.
It has been reported that the left-arm pacer from Uttar Pradesh, who has been associated with RCB in the IPL, has already reached home and is preparing to play for UP in the premier domestic 50-over tournament.
Mukesh will be seen in action for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Saini will represent Delhi.
5 pacers in India’s squad
Indian selectors included as many as five fast bowlers in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, which was announced in October. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep, who are playing in the ongoing third Test at The Gabba, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna are part of India’s pace attack. Harshit has already played two Test matches for India in the ongoing series, but Krishna is still waiting for an opportunity.
The Karnataka-based cricketer made his Test debut for India last year in Centurion against South Africa during the Boxing Day Test played at SuperSport Park, and then, despite an ordinary show in his maiden red-ball match for India, he managed to retain his place for the second match, which was played at Newlands in Cape Town and finished in just two days.
