Indian Players Rested for Sri Lanka Tour
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will not join the Indian team for their tour of Sri Lanka later this month. The Indian cricket board wants these senior players to rest more before returning for a full season in September, when Bangladesh visits India for two Tests and three T20Is starting on September 19.
The Sri Lanka tour includes three ODIs and three T20Is from July 27 to August 7. Sharma and Kohli retired from T20Is after the recent World Cup, while Bumrah will continue playing the format for India. The selection committee will meet next week to choose the team.
A source in the BCCI , “Senior players can take some rest and get ready for the full cricket season ahead. Rohit, Virat, and Bumrah have been offered rest and will join the team for the Test matches against Bangladesh in September.”
After the Bangladesh series, the Indian team will host New Zealand for three Tests from October 16 to November 5. They will then travel to South Africa for four T20Is between November 8 and 15, followed by a five-match Test series in Australia starting on November 22.
BCCI to Seek New Support Staff
The Indian board will soon invite applications for the team’s support staff, as the contracts of batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip ended after the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has already interviewed Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman for the head coach position, with an official announcement pending. Gambhir is expected to take the role, with the delay due to finalizing his salary.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that the new coach will join the Indian team from the Sri Lanka series.