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India will tour Sri Lanka for an ODI and T20I series in July 2024, featuring three matches of each format. This marks the first bilateral series between the teams in Sri Lanka since 2021.
Rohit Sharma is expected to lead a full-strength Indian squad for the ODIs, a departure from the inexperienced team sent in 2021 under Coach Rahul Dravid, which lost the T20I series and faced COVID-19 issues.
Selectors are keen to send an experienced squad to prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. With Rahul Dravid set to resign after the ongoing T20 World Cup, reports suggest Gautam Gambhir will take over as Head Coach due to his success with KKR in IPL 2024.
Rohit Sharma’s team has been strong in ODI cricket and aims to excel in the upcoming ICC event. Here’s a look at the predicted India ODI squad for the Sri Lanka series.
India ODI Squad for Sri Lanka tour
Openers: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill
Rohit Sharma, India’s skipper in all formats, will lead the team in the Sri Lanka series. He, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, will serve as the openers. Sharma’s leadership led India to an Asia Cup victory last year.
Middle-Order Batters: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will anchor the middle order. Kohli remains in prime form, while Iyer has consistently performed well post-recovery. Suryakumar Yadav, though struggling in ODIs, brings valuable T20-style batting to the lineup.
Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Sanju Samson
KL Rahul and Sanju Samson are the likely wicketkeepers for the tour. Both have delivered match-winning performances in ODIs, adding depth to the middle order.
All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja
All-rounders will be crucial in the series. Hardik Pandya, a medium-pace all-rounder, will act as the fourth seamer, while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, both left-arm spinners, provide batting strength and versatility in spin.
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal
The “Kul-Cha” duo returns, offering variety in spin with Kuldeep’s left-arm and Chahal’s right-arm deliveries.
Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj form a formidable pace attack. Their combined prowess has troubled teams globally, with Siraj’s memorable 6-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final being a standout performance.
