India have added right-handed opening batsman Mayank Agarwal to their squad for the upcoming ODI series consisting of three matches against the West Indies, starting on February 6. All the matches of the series will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will be followed by a three-match T20I series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The announcement of adding Agarwal to the squad came after seven members of the Indian contingent were tested positive for the coronavirus, which also included three players: opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer, standby fast bowler Navdeep Saini and uncapped opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The BCCI informed in a press release on Wednesday night,
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added Mayank Agarwal to India’s ODI squad after seven members, including three players of Team India (Senior Men) tested positive for COVID-19 following three rounds of RT-PCR testing.”
“The members were asked to report in Ahmedabad on 31st January 2022 for the upcoming three-match ODI and T20I series against the West Indies. Every member was also asked to undergo an RT-PCR test at home before embarking on their journey to Ahmedabad and the travel was undertaken only after testing negative,”
the release added.
Among the other members of the Indian squad who have tested positive for coronavirus are fielding coach T Dilip, security liaison officer B Lokesh and sports massage therapist Rajeev Kumar.
The release added that
“The BCCI Medical team is handling the positive cases and they will remain in isolation till complete recovery is attained.”
India and West Indies will play three ODIs in Ahmedabad on February 6, 9 and 12 before moving to Kolkata for the T20 international series which begins on February 16, with the remaining two matches to be played on February 18 and February 20. After the conclusion of the home series against the West Indies, India will engage with Sri Lanka for a bilateral series at home which also includes Test matches.
Rohit Sharma will return to the squad after missing series against New Zealand and South Africa to lead India in the ODI and T20I series against the West Indies whereas fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami will be missing the action as they have been rested.