Virat Kohli and co. jolted as throwdown specialist Raghavendra tests COVID-19 positive

With just a month left for blockbuster tour of Australia, Team India have ramped up ir preparations in what will be ir first international cricket series in close to nine months. Men in Blue will begin India vs Australia 2020 series, with a three-match ODI series, followed by a three-match T20I showdown and n  much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy. selectors anunced a 32-man squ for series Down Under, which begins on vember 27. 

Also Re: Suryakumar Yav Takes Up Break Beard Challenge In Dream11 IPL 2020; See Picture

Raghavendra COVID-19 positive: Virat Kohli and Co. dealt major blow as throwdown specialist ruled out of Australia tour

According to a report by Sportstar, Team India's throw-down specialist Raghavendra has tested positive for COVID-19. Fondly kwn as 'Raghu' by Team India staff, throwdown specialist was in Bangalore and scheduled to travel to Dubai along with likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari and or staff ahe of India vs Australia 2020 tour. However, after COVID-19 positive test, he is set to stay back in Bangalore and miss trip Down Under.

Also Re: Sourav Ganguly Lauds Chris Gayle's IPL Comeback; Says Being Sidelined 'pinched Him'

It is a crucial blow for Team India, with Virat Kohli having earlier highlighted Raghu's importance to set-up. In a chat with Tamim Iqbal, Indian captain h mentioned that it was Raghavendra's good concepts about footwork and bat movement of players that helped batsmen play fast bowling better. In Raghu's absence, Nuwan Seneviratne from Sri Lanka is expected to make trip to Australia. 

Also Re: Shubman Gill Does A Virat Kohli, Achieves Unique Dream11 IPL 'individual Season Double'

India squ for Australia tour

BCCI on Monday anunced a 32-man contingent for trip to Australia later next month. KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yav, Mohammed Siraj found ir way into Test squ, while Varun Chakravarthy and Sanju Samson found mselves as part of T20I contingent. Rishabh Pant was dropped from white-ball squs but is present in red ball team along with regulars Hanuma Vihari and Cheteshwar Pujara.

Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma are table absentees and could feature in series against Australia subject to fitness tests. In dition, four fast bowlers in Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kartik Tyagi, Ishan Porel and T. Natarajan will travel with squ for net bowling duties. Here are squs in full:

• ODI Squ: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (vice-captain & wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur
• T20I Squ: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Varun Chakravarthy
• Test Squ: Virat Kohli (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yav, Ravindra Jeja, R. Ashwin, Mohd. Siraj

Also Re: Irfan Pathan's Match-winning Spell In 2007 World T20 Final Recalled By ICC: Watch

(Im Courtesy: BCCI Twitter)