Some first-team players are likely to be rested for India’s tour of Ireland, RevSportz understands. India will play two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and 28, and the selectors are mulling on sending an experimental side for the short tour. For the white-ball series in England that follows the Ireland tour, full-strength squads are expected. India will play five T20Is and three ODIs in England from July 1.
A lot of players in the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in February-March deserve rest. Jasprit Bumrah for example has been playing almost non-stop since last September. That he hasn’t quite been in his element in the ongoing IPL — just three wickets in 11 matches at an average of 116.33 — could be down to fatigue. The IPL is a contractual obligation and it’s difficult for the Indian players to say ‘no’.
Now that Mumbai Indians are out of the playoff reckoning, it needs to be seen if Bumrah would be rested in the next three matches. From the BCCI’s perspective, though, it’s imperative that Indian cricket’s most valuable asset is protected. According to sources, Bumrah could be rested for the T20Is in England as well. With the World Test Championship and the 2027 ODI World Cup now topping the priority list, it’s unlikely that Bumrah would feature in bilateral T20Is in the next few months.
Some reports suggest that Suryakumar Yadav is playing through pain. The BCCI and/or MI, however, hasn’t said a word about whether Surya is carrying an injury. And as long as there’s no official confirmation, the whole thing falls into the realm of conjecture. But India’s T20I captain, along with the likes of Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, appears to be suffering from World Cup fatigue. An extended break after the IPL might serve them well.
RevSportz already reported that subject to fitness, Surya is likely to lead India in the five T20Is in England. For a proven performer like him, the selectors don’t read too much into the IPL form. But if an experimental side is sent to Ireland and the majority of top players are rested, it is learnt that Sanju Samson could be the stop-gap captain for the two-match series.
Something similar was done in 2024 after India’s T20 World Cup triumph, when a young side, led by Shubman Gill, was sent to Zimbabwe for a T20I series. If the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee picks the young ones for the Ireland tour, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, according to sources, could be firmly in the reckoning. Yashasvi Jaiswal, too, might make a comeback to the T20I fold.
As far as fast-bowling is concerned, it is learnt that Prince Yadav has impressed the selectors. Nothing, however, has been finalised yet. The chief selector is expected to have a conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surya before taking a call.
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