It’s his first international call-up, and he’s not just a bowler; he’s a leg-spin all-rounder with a T20 strike rate of 176. With Kuldeep Yadav busy with the West Indies ODIs, Nigam got the nod. His inclusion adds depth to India’s spin options alongside Bishnoi, Axar, and Sundar; and his batting could be a surprise weapon. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy was shifted to the ODI squad, and Yash Thakur replaced the unfit Harshit Rana. The squad, led by Shreyas Iyer, is now set to kick off with a T20 against Japan on Sept 22, before diving into the Asian Games knockout stage. For Nigam, this isn’t just a replacement pick; it’s a career-defining moment.