Rahul returns to India squad after chat show incident

MUMBAI: Batsman K L Rahul returned to India’s squad on Friday for the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia after being sidelined for sexist comments during a controversial TV chat show appearance.

Rahul has been named in both the one-day and Twenty20 squads announced by the country’s cricket board.Skipper Virat Kohli also returned to lead the side in two T20 matches starting February 24, followed by five ODI games.

Senior wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik was dropped from the ODI team that unites for one final time before the 50-over World Cup in England and Wales starting May 30.Rising star Rishabh Pant got the go-ahead instead, indicating the wicketkeeper could be a part of India’s World Cup scheme.

Frontline fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested for the first two ODI games and returns for the remaining three matches.Rookie leg-spinner Mayank Markande takes the place of new spin ace Kuldeep Yadav in the T20 squad.

T20 squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Sidharth Kaul, Mayank Markande

Squad for 1st and 2nd ODI: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Rishabh Pant, Siddharth Kaul, KL Rahul

Squad for remaining three ODIs: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant