The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a revamped squad and a new T20I captain for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. In a move that signals a changing of the guard, prolific batsman Suryakumar Yadav has been named captain of the T20I side.
The young prodigy, who previously led the team against Australia and South Africa, will be tasked with guiding a squad featuring a blend of experience and exciting prospects. The highly-rated Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain for both the T20I and ODI squads, further underlining his rising stature in Indian cricket.
The T20I squad boasts the return of several key players who were rested for the Zimbabwe series. Fans can expect to see star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, along with pace sensations Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj, back in action. The spin department is bolstered by the presence of Axar Patel. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah will be rested for the tour, highlighting the team’s focus on managing player workloads.
The ODI squad sees the return of seasoned campaigners Rohit Sharma as captain and Virat Kohli. The wicketkeeping duties will be shared by KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. While Sanju Samson misses out on the ODI squad, exciting youngsters like Riyan Parag, who impressed in the Zimbabwe T20Is, and IPL star Harshit Rana have earned call-ups. The dependable Khaleel Ahmed finds a place in both the T20I and ODI squads.
This tour marks a new chapter for Indian cricket as Gautam Gambhir takes over the reins as the new head coach. Gambhir’s debut assignment comes after Rahul Dravid’s successful tenure, which culminated in India’s triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
India’s squads for Sri Lanka series
T20I squad to play under new T20I captain:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Ꮪhubman Gill (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj.
ODI squad:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana
This tour to Sri Lanka, India’s first bilateral series there since 2021, presents an opportunity for the team to build on their recent World Cup success while integrating new talent. With a blend of experience and youthful exuberance, India looks to continue its dominance in white-ball cricket.
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