Suryakumar Yadav was named the T20I captain ending speculations over who will take over the reins from a retired Sharma in the shortest format, with Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya missing out on the leadership role. Shubman Gill is the designated vice-captain in T20Is with Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammad Siraj returning. Riyan Parag and Harshit Rana got maiden India ODI call-ups as the BCCI on Thursday announced the much-anticipated squads for India vs Sri Lanka white-ball tour starting July 27 with Rohit Sharma back as the ODI captain with a new deputy – Shubman Gill.
Here are top 10 talking points from India’s T20I and ODI squads for Sri Lanka Series
Rohit, and Kohli return for ODIs
As expected Rohit and Kohli will return for the ODI leg of the Sri Lanka series after retiring from T20Is post the T20 World Cup. It was earlier reported that both of them could skip the series, but with Gambhir keen to bring in the senior players for his debut series as the head coach, both Rohit and Kohli made themselves available for ODIs. This will be the first time the two all-time greats will take the field in ODIs for India after India’s loss to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
Suryakumar Yadav Named New T20I Captain, Shubman Gill Is Rohit Sharma’s Deputy for ODIs As India Squads Announced for Sri Lanka Tour
Suryakumar Yadav to lead in T20Is
Suryakumar Yadav got elevated as the India skipper in the T20I format, and this will be a golden opportunity for SKY to show his leadership qualities and stake a claim to be India’s T20I captain for the 2026 T20 World Cup at home. While Hardik Pandya seemed to be primed to get back the T20I captaincy, Gauta, Gambhir has shown faith in SKY, who led India in seven matches in Pandya’s absence in 2023. Gambhir had previously been vocal about SKY’s leadership qualities when both were in Kolkata Knight Riders and this elevation surely seems to have Gambhir written all over it.
Shubman Gill appointed as new vice-captain for T20Is and ODIs
The elevation of Shubman Gill is probably the biggest talking point from the squad selection. Gill had captained India in the recently concluded Zimbabwe T20Is, but it was widely speculated that with the likes of Pant, and Pandya returning in T20Is and Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul back in ODIs, Gill had little chance to be the vice-captain, but the management has put their money on Gill and opted elevate the young star to the leadership group.
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Abhishek Sharma dropped after 47-ball century
Abhishek Sharma, who featured in all of the five matches in the Zimbabwe tour, had scored a 47-ball 100 in only his second T20I but lost out on a place in the SL series with Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammad Siraj returning for the ODIs. Sharma who got a four-ball duck in his debut innings, came back well smashing the Zimbabwe bowlers all around in the 2nd T20I opening the batting, compiling a hard-hitting century studded with seven fours and eight sixes, but the return of Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top-order from the 3rd T20I onwards meant, Sharma was slotted in at No.3 where he got scores of 10 and 14. He ended the series with 124 runs from four innings at an average of 31.00 and striking at 174.64.
Abhishek Sharma Dropped From India’s T20I Squad for Sri Lanka Series Despite Slamming 47-Ball Century
Maiden ODI calls up for Harshit Rana and Riyan Parag
Harshit Rana and Riyan Parag were rewarded with maiden ODI call-ups and even though Parag had an underwhelming debut India series in Zimbabwe scoring just 24 runs in 3 innings while Rana, despite being on the tour, did not get to play a game – the move clearly hints at Gautam Gambhir and Indian team management putting their money on the future. Both Rana and Parag had a stellar IPL 2024, and more importantly, the duo has a good List A record. In 14 List A games Rana has 22 wickets at an average of 23.45, while Parag boasts 1720 runs in 49 matches at an average of 41.95. With the ball, he has 50 wickets at 31.00. Parag’s inclusion in the ODI squad at the expense of Sanju Samson hints that the team management is looking at utlising Parag’s all-round abilities.
Khaleel Ahmed and Shivam Dube back in ODI team after 5 years
Khaleel returns to the ODI setup after a long five-year break. His last ODI for India was in 2019 vs West Indies, while Shivam Dube riding on his T20 form also makes a return to the ODIs in the absence of Hardik Pandya, lending India a fast bowling allrounder’s option. His only ODI came in 2018 vs West Indies in Chennai.
3 Players Dropped From Indian Team For Sri Lanka ODIs
Sanju Samson dropped from ODIs after 100 in the last match
This a very interesting omission considering that in Samson’s last ODI, he scored a match-winning century to help the Indian side reach a defendable score against the Proteas at Paarl. But now he seems to have been looked past yet again as he struggles to find any form of stability or a string of games to establish some confidence.
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Jasprit Bumrah rested for full tour
As expected Jasprit Bumrah gets an extended break as he is rested for the full tour. We can expect to see Bumrah back for the Bangladesh Tests, starting September 19.
No Ravindra Jadeja in ODIs, Ruturaj Gaikwad out as well
Jadeja, the star Indian all-rounder has been a mainstay for the Men in Blue, particularly the one-day setup but now he seems to have missed out on a spot in the side in place of Washington Sundar. Jadeja last played a 50-over game during the ODI World Cup Final 2023 in Ahmedabad. Is it the end of the road for Jadeja in white-ball cricket?
Gaikwad has not had a consistent string of games in the 50-over format. He has struggled to find stability when playing in the ODI side. His last 50-over game was against South Africa at Gqeberha in 2023 but has struggled to rack up big scores.
Hardik Pandya only for T20Is
As per reports Hardik Pandya had made himself unavailable for the ODI leg of the tour citing personal issues. After the squad news came out, Pandya announced on social media that he is separated with his wife of four years, Natasa Stankovic. Pandya was touted to be named India captain in the T20Is, but team management has chosen Suryakumar Yadav to lead the side with Shubman Gill as the vice-captain.
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