Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah return for Afghanistan T20I series; Hardik Pandya unfit
Samson, rested for Zimbabwe series, returns as one of two specialist wicketkeepers alongside Ishan Kishan. He is among eight changes from that squad, with Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, Prabhsimran Singh, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav and Ashok Sharma making way.
Hardik Pandya continues to struggle with fitness and is yet to be included in India's T20I squad for their upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan. Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarthy have returned to the squad as the match approaches on September 13-17 in Delhi. Bumrah, who previously played in India's T20 World Cup final win, is subject to fitness due to a knee injury.
Shreyas Iyer is named captain with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Samson, who was rested for the Zimbabwe series, will be one of two specialist wicketkeepers alongside Ishan Kishan. Seven players have been dropped from the previous squad, including Rinku Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, Prabhsimran Singh, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Mayank Yadav, and Ashok Sharma.
Four more players, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana, are selected depending on clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Their fitness status will be confirmed before September 9.
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