Team India head coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday. As a result, as of now it is not known whether he would be joining the team in the UAE for the upcoming Asia Cup slated to be played in Dubai and Sharjah from August 27. Team India will be playing their first match of the tournament on August 28 against arch-rivals Pakistan. It is important to note that Dravid had not travelled with the team to Zimbabwe for the three-match ODI series, that concluded on Monday.

Team India had defeated Zimbabwe 3-0 in the three-match ODI series. The visitors won the third and final ODI by 13 runs on Monday. Shubman Gill starred with the bat as he played a knock of 130, hitting his first international century.

Dravid had taken charge of India’s senior side after the T20 World Cup last year.

Rohit Sharma will lead the team for the Asia Cup, while former captain Virat Kohli is back in the squad after a break. Premier paceman Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.

Three specialist spinners are part of the squad which includes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the two all-rounders.

Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav are the two batting options.

In Bumrah’s absence the pace attack will be led by the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar with youngsters Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh rounding up the squad.

Promoted

Death overs specialist Harshal Patel is also out due to injury. Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel and Deepak Chahar have been named as standbys.

India’s squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan