Shubhman Gill Vice-Captain in both formats; Virat to play ODIs
Jasprit Bumrah rested; Hardik only part of T20Is squad, as also Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh
KL Rahul & Shreyas Iyer return for ODIs; Ravindra Jadeja notable omission
The Gautam Gambhir effect has already started showing in the selection of the Indian T20 captain and squads for the forthcoming T20Is and ODIs tour of Sri Lanka, announced by BCCI on Thursday.
World’s top T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav, nicknamed SKY or Mr 360 degree, and not world’s current top T20 allrounder Hardik Pandya, will lead the country’s T20Is squad, while Rohit Sharma, who along with Virat Kohli and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, had announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game after lifting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, continues as captain of the ODIs squad. Opening batsman Shubhman Gill will be the vice-captain of both squads.
While Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the tour, Virat Kohli, who, along with Rohit Sharma, had informed the BCCI about his availability for the tour, forms part of the ODI squad.
Hardik is only part of the T20Is squad, and so are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh. Middle order batter Riyan Parag finds a place in both squads and Delhi pacer Harshit Rana comes into the ODIs squad, which also sees the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Ravindra Jadeja is a notable omission from the ODIs squad.
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Mohammad Shami apparently still not fully recovered from injury will also miss the tour to Sri Lanka, during which India play three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs in the island nation from July 27 to August 7.
In Bumrah’s absence, the pace attack will be led by Mohd. Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. Among other pacers Khaleel Ahmed has found his name in both squads, while Harshit Rana is an addition in the 50 overs format.
The spin department finds allrounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in both squads. While Ravi Bishnoi is the third spinner in the T20Is squad, Kuldeep Yadav replaces him in the ODIs.
This will be Gautam Gambhir’s first tour as head coach of the Indian cricket team after recently replacing Rahul Dravid, and thus his performance will be closely watched.
T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar.
ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar.
