Virat Kohli Keeps Gautam Gambhir’s Request, Confirms Availability For ODI Series Against Sri Lanka: Report

18.07.2024 16:07

India.com

New Delhi: The past few days have been a frenzy regarding Team India’s selection for the upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. This tour holds particular importance as it marks the beginning of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as the new head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid. Initially, it seemed that Indian batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would be rested; however, they are now set to participate in the three-match ODI series in the island nation.

According to the Indian Express, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have confirmed their availability for the upcoming series. This announcement comes just as the BCCI’s senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is set to convene via a Zoom call on Thursday evening to finalize the squad.

The senior duo has agreed to return despite initial reports suggesting they would be given rest. This series against Sri Lanka will be Gautam Gambhir’s first as head coach, adding an extra layer of excitement as both Kohli and Rohit have previously played alongside Gambhir during his tenure with the national team.

Additionally, the report indicates that the selection committee has decided to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of the Indian T20I team for the three-match series. Hardik Pandya, who served as India’s vice-captain during the T20 World Cup, is likely to miss out on this promotion due to concerns over his fitness.

Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the Indian side in the ODI format, steering the team through the crucial series against Sri Lanka. This series is pivotal for India as they aim to build momentum and fine-tune their ODI lineup, with only a limited number of matches remaining before next year’s Champions Trophy.

The report from the Indian Express further indicates that the selection committee won’t hesitate to replace Suryakumar Yadav as captain if his performance fails to meet expectations. The BCCI envisions Suryakumar leading the Indian team in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host.

In another exciting development, Riyan Parag, the promising young batter who made his India debut in T20Is earlier this month during the series against Zimbabwe, has retained the selectors’ confidence. While Parag had a modest showing with the bat across three matches, he showcased his potential with stellar performances in this year’s Indian Premier League, representing the Rajasthan Royals.