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The BCCI is set to unveil the squad for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, July 16, a selection eagerly anticipated with Gautam Gambhir stepping in as India’s new head coach for the limited-overs matches in Sri Lanka.
India’s tour of Sri Lanka will feature a three-match T20I series followed by an equal number of ODIs. Action kicks off with the T20Is, starting at Pallekele on July 27, followed by subsequent matches at the same venue on July 28 and 30.
Post Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20I captaincy after the 2024 T20 World Cup, a successor has yet to be named, adding to the intrigue surrounding the squad. The selection committee under Ajit Agarkar faces the task of filling the gaps left by the retirements of Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja from T20I cricket.
Following their recent 4-1 series win against Zimbabwe on July 14, led by Shubman Gill, changes are expected in the squad from the previous tour. Notable returns anticipated include Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav for the T20I leg.
India’s Likely Squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya (C), Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana
Hardik Pandya To Lead Sri Lanka In T20I Matches – Report
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja may opt out of the upcoming Sri Lanka ODIs due to a packed schedule later this year. Reports indicate that Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul are frontrunners to potentially step in as captain for the 50-over format following Rohit’s retirement.
In 2024, India’s ODI schedule is limited to just three matches, with their next series slated for February 2025 ahead of the Champions Trophy, as confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, where Rohit Sharma will resume captaincy duties.
Post the Sri Lanka series, the Indian cricket team faces a demanding calendar, including home Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand, followed by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. These contests carry significant weight in the World Test Championship standings, pivotal as India strives to secure a place in the final.
India’s last visit to Sri Lanka was for the 2023 Asia Cup, culminating in victory as they defeated the hosts in the final in Colombo. Mohammed Siraj’s right-arm pace prowess saw Sri Lanka bundled out for a mere 50 runs in just 15.2 overs, securing a memorable triumph for the Men in Blue.
