Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir-born pacer Rasikh Salam Dar has earned another opportunity to be around the Indian national setup, with the 26-year-old named among three additional net bowlers accompanying India’s Japan-bound contingent.
Rasikh, who now represents Baroda in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League, has been selected alongside Maharashtra spinner Vicky Ostwal and Uttar Pradesh pacer Kartik Tyagi as unofficial members of the Indian contingent.
The trio has been added primarily to assist the 14-member Indian squad during practice sessions in Japan. They are understood to have travelled from New Delhi to Tokyo on Saturday night, September 19.
For Rasikh, the assignment marks another step in his comeback journey and provides an opportunity to train alongside players representing India at the international level.
The Indian side, led by Shreyas Iyer, is scheduled to play a bilateral T20I against hosts Japan before heading to Nagoya for the Asian Games.
India will hold its first practice session at Sano International Stadium on September 21, followed by the T20I against Japan on September 22.
The team will remain in Sano for a few more days before travelling to Nagoya for the Asian Games. India’s first Asian Games match is scheduled for September 28.
Rasikh Salam’s role in Japan
With the main Indian squad reduced to 14 players following Nitish Kumar Reddy’s withdrawal from the Asian Games contingent, the presence of additional bowlers becomes particularly useful during the team’s practice sessions.
Rasikh, Ostwal and Tyagi will provide the Indian batters with additional bowling options during training, although they are not part of the official playing squad.
For Rasikh, the opportunity is significant given his progression through domestic cricket and the IPL after establishing himself as one of Jammu and Kashmir’s promising fast-bowling prospects.
The pacer has represented J&K in domestic cricket before moving to Baroda and has also been part of the RCB setup in the IPL.
India’s Japan assignment before Asian Games
The Japan T20I will serve as part of India’s preparation before the Asian Games campaign begins.
Following the match in Sano, the Indian contingent will shift its focus to Nagoya, where the team will begin its Asian Games campaign from September 28.
The addition of Rasikh, Ostwal and Tyagi allows the squad to maintain a larger group of bowlers during its training sessions despite having only 14 official members.
India’s West Indies ODI squad to assemble in Trivandrum
Meanwhile, India’s 15-member ODI squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies has been instructed to assemble in Trivandrum on September 23.
The team, captained by Shubman Gill, will begin the three-match ODI series on September 27.
The second ODI will be played in Guwahati on September 30, while the third and final match is scheduled for New Chandigarh on October 3.
The ODI series will be followed by a five-match T20I series between India and the West Indies, beginning in Lucknow on October 6.
For Rasikh Salam, however, the immediate focus will be on Japan, where the former J&K pacer will get another chance to work closely with India’s international-bound players as part of the team’s extended training group.
