The Asian Games-bound Indian cricket team has suffered a massive blow before boarding the flight to Hangzhou next week. Fast bowler Shivam Mavi reportedly suffered an injury a few days ago and is set to miss the continental games. However, the nature of his injury is yet to be known.
According to The Indian Express, Mavi’s replacement will soon be announced by the BCCI senior selection committee. It has been learned that Ajit Agarkar & co were keen to pick Yash Thakur, who was kept among the standby players, but the Vidarbha pacer also injured his back. In his unavailability, the selection committee is set to zero in on Jammu’s Umran Malik.
The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Indian team is supposed to gather at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for a 2-week training camp before flying to Hangzhou, China. The players of the second-string Indian team will train under the watchful eyes of NCA chief VVS Laxman who will also be the head coach of the side. The likes of Sairaj Bahutule and Munish Bali will accompany Laxman as bowling and fielding coaches, respectively.
Men’s and women’s teams in Asiad
As cricket returns to the Asian games, the BCCI named a ‘B Squad’ as the main team will gear up for the 50-over World Cup at home. On the other hand, the first-string women’s team will participate in the Asiad.
Kanitkar to coach the women’s team
Former Indian all-rounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar will be the interim head coach of the Indian women’s team at the Asiad. The former all-rounder was in charge of the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side in the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.
The likes of Rajib Dutta (bowling coach) and Subhadeep Ghosh (fielding coach) will be the other members of the support staff who will travel to China alongside Kanitakar.
Cricket returns to Asian Games
Cricket was part of the 2010 and 2014 editions of the Asiad. However, India didn’t field a team. Back in 2018, the cricket was left out in Jakarta but this year, it’s set to return in China. It was initially supposed to be held last year but was postponed due to the country’s zero-Covid policy.
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