The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee revealed India’s squad for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka on Thursday, July 18. In a significant development, Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as India’s new T20I captain following Rohit Sharma’s decision to step away from the shortest format after leading the team to a triumphant victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 last month.
In what marks the early preparations for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli find their names in the ODI squad. The series sees the welcome return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer to white-ball cricket for the first time in 2024, promising a blend of experience and fresh energy.
Shubman Gill, who recently showcased his leadership prowess by guiding India to a 4-1 win over Zimbabwe in the T20Is, has been named as the vice-captain for both the T20 and ODI squads for the Sri Lanka series. This move highlights India’s strategy of grooming future leaders. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was serving as Rohit’s deputy in last year’s T20 and ODI World Cups, has been reinstated to the T20I setup but has surprisingly been left out of the ODI squad for this series.
Young opener Abhishek Sharma, despite his sensational 46-ball century in the second T20I against Zimbabwe, has been dropped from the squad. Another notable absentee is Ruturaj Gaikwad, even after his commendable performances against Zimbabwe. These decisions are sure to spark discussions among fans and analysts alike.
In the midst of these changes, senior cricketers such as Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel have made their return to the T20I setup.
. However, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who earned the Player of the Tournament award in the recent T20 World Cup, remains absent from both white-ball squads.
New faces in the ODI squad include 22-year-old Delhi pacer Harshit Rana and the batting all-rounder Riyan Parag. Parag, who made his international debut in the recent T20Is against Zimbabwe, retains his place ahead of more established names like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma, signaling a bold youth-driven approach for the future.
India’s T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series comprises of:
– Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)
– Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Rinku Singh
– Riyan Parag
– Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)
– Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
– Hardik Pandya
– Shivam Dube
– Axar Patel
– Washington Sundar
– Ravi Bishnoi
– Arshdeep Singh
– Khaleel Ahmed
– Mohammed Siraj
The ODI squad for the series includes:
– Rohit Sharma (Captain)
– Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)
– Virat Kohli
– KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
– Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)
– Shreyas Iyer
– Shivam Dube
– Kuldeep Yadav
– Mohammed Siraj
– Washington Sundar
– Arshdeep Singh
– Riyan Parag
– Axar Patel
– Khaleel Ahmed
– Harshit Rana
Sri Lanka will host India for three T20Is and three ODIs, spanning from July 27 to August 7. This series is expected to serve as a crucial testing ground for new strategies and player combinations as India gears up for the Champions Trophy and other upcoming international assignments.
In related moves, India’s former bowling coach has advised the new team management to lay out comprehensive future plans in discussions with seasoned campaigners like Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin. Meanwhile, the concept of ‘Bazball’ keeps enthralling cricket enthusiasts as England shattered the world record for the fastest fifty during the second Test against the West Indies, demonstrating how innovative tactics can redefine the game. Furthermore, with cricket set to return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, the sport’s evergreen global appeal continues to strengthen.
With the squad announcements, cricket fans eagerly await the unfolding dynamic and tactical maneuvers team India will employ against their Sri Lankan counterparts. The series promises to be a thrilling chapter in India’s cricketing journey as the team fine-tunes its approach for future competitions.
