Allrounder Hardik Pandya is expected to miss the ODI matches of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, while the new head coach Gautam Gambhir wants senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah to participate in the series.
According to the Indian Express, Pandya, who played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup win in the Caribbean last month and is a top contender to lead the T20I team, might skip the ODIs due to personal reasons.
India’s squads for the Sri Lanka tour, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs, are likely to be announced today. This series will be Gambhir’s first assignment as the head coach of the Indian team.
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Hardik Pandya Notifies BCCI About His Absence
Pandya, who last played an ODI in October 2023 during the World Cup group game against Bangladesh and got injured, has reportedly informed the BCCI that he will be unavailable due to personal reasons. His absence could open the door for someone like Shivam Dube to make his mark as a fast-bowling allrounder in the ODIs.
Gambhir Urges Senior Players to Join ODI Series
It was previously speculated that senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja might skip the Sri Lanka ODIs to extend their break after the T20 World Cup. However, Gambhir wants these key players to participate in the ODI series, emphasizing that the team will have another long break afterward.
The Sri Lanka series begins with T20Is on July 27, followed by ODIs starting on August 2, with the final match on August 7. The Indian team will then have a six-week break before playing Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai on September 19.
Players Yet to Respond to Gambhir’s Request
As of now, Rohit and Kohli, who are on vacation with their families, have not yet responded to Gambhir’s request to play in the ODI series.
Hardik Pandya May Lose T20I Captaincy
Reports suggest that Hardik Pandya might lose out to Suryakumar Yadav for the T20I captaincy due to concerns about his fitness. Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership has been well-received within the Indian team.
Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI Spot Uncertain
With Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja having retired from T20Is, they are likely to be available for the ODI series. However, Jadeja’s place in the squad is uncertain as Axar Patel has emerged as a strong contender for the spin-bowling allrounder role in white-ball cricket for India.