Reports: Shahrukh Khan, R Sai Kishore added as backups for West Indies series

As per the latest developments, Tamil Nadu duo Shahrukh Khan and R Sai Kishore have been included as backups in India’s squad for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies. Three ODIs will be followed by as many T20Is in the home series with the action getting underway on February 6. Shahrukh and Kishore have been impressive in the domestic circuit and have been added as cover for any player contracting COVID-19 during the series.

Notably, many series and tournaments have been affected in the last couple of years with players testing COVID positive midway through the series. Owing to the same, the duo have been added as reserve players. BCCI, on January 27, announced two 19-member squads for the ODI and T20I series. The likes of Deepak Hooda and Ravi Bishnoi were awarded with call-ups for their stellar show in the domestic arena but Shahrukh and Kishore were overlooked.

Shahrukh Khan and R Sai Kishore have been impressive in the domestic arena

“The BCCI wants to have all its bases covered. With the third wave still persisting, the Board cannot take a chance, and Shahrukh and Sai Kishore have been added to the squad. Sai Kishore will be a good handy bowler at the nets too,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Notably, Shahrukh has been doing a brilliant job as a finisher in domestic arena. In the last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, the dasher slammed a last-ball six in the final to take Tamil Nadu to glory. He also concluded the Vijay Hazare Trophy season with the highest strike rate – 186.03.

As far as R Sai Kishore is concerned, the left-arm spinner has been a vital part of Tamil Nadu’s bowling attack. With took ten scalps in eight games, the spinner was among the top ten wicket-takers in the recent T20 tournament. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he picked nine wickets in eight games at 35.22 as Tamil Nadu finished as runner-up finish.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Tamil Nadu will soon announce replacements for the duo for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. “Once the West Indies series would have ended, Washington would have been available. So the management was okay to play the first couple of matches with 19 players. Now the team composition might change with both Shahrukh and Sai missing. A final decision will be taken in the next two days,” explained the source.