SL vs IND: Second T20I to go ahead, BCCI add spare players to the squad

The second T20I between Sri Lanka and India will go ahead as per the schedule. The penultimate T20I was postponed after all-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, BCCI has included five spare players - Ishan Porel, Sandeep Warrier, Arshdeep Singh, Sai Kishore, Simarjeet Singh, who went to Sri Lanka as net bowlers, into the regular squad. The move was inspired by the fact that eight players who were identified as close contacts to Krunal Pandya have been isolated and will not take any further part in the series.

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According to the Indian Express, apart from Krunal Pandya, the players who are not available for the rest of the series are – Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Deepak Chahar, Krishnappa Gowtham, Ishan Kishan and Yuzvendra Chahal. The unavailability of these players meant that BCCI had to include spare players in the squad. Some of the players are likely to feature in the second T20I as well.

"The decision to have extra players was a wise move and those players have now come to the team's rescue," said a tour official refuting the talk that the tour was in danger of being called off.

The development also means that Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw's departure to England will be delayed by few days. The players were set to board the flight to the UK after being named as replacements for the injured players. However, with them being identified as close contacts to Krunal Pandya, they will have to spend certain days in isolation. The players most likely won't be available for the first two Tests.