A piece of good news for Team India and skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of the
three-match T20I series against Ireland next month is talismanic pacer Jasprit
Bumrah is set to return for the series. Bumrah will be making his first appearance
in any form of cricket since India versus Australia T20I series in September 2022.
According to reports, Bumrah is set to return for the Ireland series but there is no
deadline for the comeback of former vice-captain KL Rahul and middle-order
batter Shreyas Iyer.

While Iyer, who missed the entire IPL 2023 season with a back injury, has
resumed batting in the nets, Rahul has been seen regularly in the gym at the
National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The final decision on the squad for
the Ireland T20I series will be taken after a meeting between newly-appointed
chairman of selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Rahul Dravid, and skipper Rohit
Sharma.

The new selection committee chairman is expected to join the team in the West
Indies soon, likely during the second Test in Trinidad. Salil Ankola, a member of
the selection committee, is already traveling with the team. The Indian team,
having won the first Test in Dominica, will fly to Trinidad, the venue for the
second Test, on Monday, the report read.

Bumrah is expected to be selected for the Ireland series. The India spearhead has
shown significant progress in recent times. There is no guarantee that Shreyas
Iyer will be available, but KL Rahul has no chance of featuring not only in the
Ireland series but also in the Asia Cup 2023. Rahul is currently undergoing rehab
at the NCA and, according to the latest information, he is yet to start batting, the
report added.

The report also said that Dravid and the Team India support staff will be given a
break after the series against the West Indies. It means Dravid, batting coach
Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey will be returning home from
the United States after the last two T20Is against West Indies next month. The
main reason for the coaching staff's rest is to ensure they have enough time to
recuperate before the Asia Cup 2023, which starts on August 31, followed by a
host of assignments, including a three-match ODI series against Australia,
culminating with the World Cup concluding on November 19, the report added. In
Dravid’s absence, Team India will be coached by VVS Laxman, the head of NCA.