Ireland Tour: Hardik Pandya appointed as Captain, Samson returns and Tripathi gets Maiden call-up

After leading Gujrat Titans in their Debut Title-winning series in the IPL, Hardik Pandya has been picked as captain of the squad that will face Ireland in two T20Is later this month, according to the selection committee. Following Kl Rahul's groin injury in the current series against South Africa, he was ruled out for the rest of the series, and Hardik Pandya was promoted to vice-captain as Rishabh Pant's deputy. Now in the leadership group, 32 years old swing bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be Pandya's understudy. 

Rahul Tripathi, a right-handed batsman, earned his maiden call to the 17-member national team after a strong IPL season in which he scored over 400 runs for Sunriser Hyderabad. 

"It is a very big opportunity, a dream come true [moment], and appreciate [it]," Tripathi said. "I am very happy that the selectors and everybody believed in me and whatever hard work I have put in, I have got the rewards. And hopefully, if I get an opportunity to play, I will try and give my best."

Despite the absence of India team regulars, Sanju Samson will return for the delayed fifth Test at Edgbaston. 

Now the 17-member squad includes: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

After having the forearm injury, Suryakumar Yadav was ruled out of the final stages of Ipl as well as the ongoing series against South Africa but now has returned for the T20 series against Ireland.