Who Will Be India’s Next T20I Captain?
There’s a lot of speculation about who will lead the Indian T20I team after Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Hardik Pandya, the vice-captain of the T20 World Cup-winning team, seems like a natural choice. However, his history of injuries and workload management for the upcoming Champions Trophy might make the selectors reconsider. This could bring Suryakumar Yadav into the picture. He led a second-string India squad to a series win against Australia and a draw in South Africa last year.
Will Rohit, Kohli, and Bumrah Play the Sri Lanka ODIs?
With India scheduled to play 10 Tests from September to January, including five at home and five in Australia, it’s possible that senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah might be rested for the Sri Lanka ODIs. This would require the selectors to appoint a new captain for the 50-over format as well.
Is KL Rahul the Best Stand-In Captain for ODIs?
KL Rahul, who captained India in their last ODI series in South Africa, might return as a middle-order batter and possibly a wicketkeeper, roles he played during the 2023 World Cup. His previous collaboration with head coach Gautam Gambhir at Lucknow Super Giants could work in his favor. Another strong candidate is Shubman Gill, who recently led India to a T20I series win in Zimbabwe and has been a top performer in ODIs since 2023.
Will Rishabh Pant Return to the ODI Squad?
Rishabh Pant’s return after his accident in December 2022 is another big decision for the selectors. Besides KL Rahul, Sanju Samson is also a strong wicketkeeping option, having scored his first international century in the most recent ODI against South Africa. Samson’s impressive ODI stats, with an average of 56.66 and a strike rate of 99.60, make him a strong contender.
What About Shreyas Iyer?
Shreyas Iyer, who lost his BCCI central contract earlier this year due to not prioritizing domestic cricket, has since made a strong comeback by leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title. Iyer was also a key player in the 50-over World Cup, scoring 530 runs in 11 innings. His impressive record could earn him a spot in the ODI squad.
Who from the Zimbabwe Series Could Make It to Sri Lanka?
With Rohit likely to rest, Yashasvi Jaiswal could make his ODI debut. Jaiswal, a reserve opener in the T20 World Cup squad, recently scored a quick 93 in Harare. Ravindra Jadeja’s retirement from T20Is could open the door for Washington Sundar, who was the Player of the Series in Zimbabwe with eight wickets at an economy of 5.16. Additionally, Abhishek Sharma, who scored his first T20I century, and Ruturaj Gaikwad could be considered as reserve openers for both T20Is and ODIs.