• Sportzyverse
• Indian Cricket Team
• 07/13/2024
• 0 Comments

Newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir will meet with Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee next week to finalize the squads for the upcoming T20I and ODI series in Sri Lanka. The series will kick off with the T20I matches on July 26, followed by the ODI series.

T20I Captaincy and Squad Selection

With captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah on an extended rest, the focus is on Hardik Pandya’s workload and future leadership role. KL Rahul may lead the ODI team if a stop-gap captain is needed. However, there is a possibility that Hardik Pandya will be named the permanent T20I captain. The board officials and senior team members are pleased with Hardik’s recent performance and see him as the right leader for the shortest format. Suryakumar Yadav is likely to be appointed as vice-captain.

Barring the retired trio of Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja, along with Bumrah, most of the T20 World Cup-winning squad members are expected to be retained for the Sri Lanka series. Potential squad members include Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, and either Avesh Khan or Mukesh Kumar. Sundar is seen as Jadeja’s replacement in T20Is, with pacers Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh leading the pace attack in Bumrah’s absence.

Rishabh Pant’s workload will also be discussed due to his nonstop cricket since IPL 2024 and his recovery from a serious injury. To manage his workload, selectors might opt for Sanju Samson and Dhurv Jurel as keepers for the Sri Lanka tour.

ODI Squad and Leadership

KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are set to return for the ODIs. Gambhir has a strong rapport with both players, having previously worked with Iyer during his tenure at Delhi Capitals and with Rahul at Lucknow Super Giants. This will be Iyer’s first series since losing his central contract with BCCI, and his performance will be closely watched. Rahul, who has been injury-prone, is seen as a potential captaincy backup for Rohit in the Test format, with Shubman Gill being another young contender.

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Gambhir and Agarkar’s strategic decisions will significantly influence Gambhir’s early days as head coach. Their collaboration with team captains across formats will be crucial for India’s success in the upcoming series and beyond.