With India’s squad for Gautam Gambhir‘s first sequence as India head coach getting introduced, main modifications have already began going down. Gambhir’s affect and voice within the choice course of is clear. Suryakumar Yadav – as soon as Gambhir’s vice-captain at Kolkata Knight Riders – has been named because the captain of the T20I squad, forward of 2024 T20 World Cup vice-captain Hardik Pandya. Jasprit Bumrah can be given an prolonged relaxation, whereas Shreyas Iyer returns to the ODI setup regardless of not having a BCCI central contract. Listed here are 4 key takeaways by NDTV Sports activities from the India squad for the Sri Lanka tour:
1. Hardik Pandya not a part of management group
While Gambhir’s religion in Suryakumar Yadav will not be a shock, what’s alarming is the entire omission of Hardik Pandya from any kind of captaincy function. As an alternative, it’s India’s captain within the Zimbabwe tour, Shubman Gill, who has been named vice-captain in each the ODIs and T20Is.
One can solely speculate the actual motive behind Hardik’s downfall on the captaincy pecking order. Is it Hardik’s disastrous Mumbai Indians stint? Or is it the truth that Hardik’s injury-prone nature means he might not all the time be part of the squad? It is also that Gambhir is firmly trying in direction of the long run, aiming to arrange Gill as India’s subsequent captain in all codecs from now itself.
2. Shubman Gill’s Large Promotion
Gambhir appears to have his eyes set firmly on the 2027 World Cup, and it looks like Shubman Gill is his vote because the nation’s future captain in all codecs. Gill has been named because the vice-captain in each the T20I and the ODI squads, forward of Hardik Pandya no much less. With Rohit being 37 and Suryakumar 33, Gambhir is trying to mould a future captain proper from the beginning.
3. Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad neglected of T20I squad
Regardless of Kuldeep’s starring function in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory – the place he picked up 10 wickets in simply 5 video games – he has been neglected of the T20I squad. The explanation behind this might be to handle Kuldeep’s workload, as he nonetheless continues to characteristic within the ODI squad.
Gambhir has additionally labored in shut quarters with Ravi Bishnoi prior to now at Lucknow Tremendous Giants (LSG), and will belief him as India’s lead spinner in T20Is.
Gaikwad has additionally been neglected, regardless of a wonderful T20I sequence in opposition to Zimbabwe. He has been neglected from each squads, with the likes of Riyan Parag favoured over him.
Abhishek Sharma scored a ton in opposition to Zimbabwe however he has additionally been dropped from the Sri Lanka tour, whereas off-colour Riyan Parag has been picked for each T20Is and ODIs.
4. Gambhir backs his KKR boys
KKR stars Shreyas Iyer, Harshit Rana (ODIs) and Rinku Singh (T20Is) are all a part of Gambhir’s first India squad. Very like Suryakumar, Gambhir’s religion in Shreyas Iyer additionally doesn’t come as a shock, after he guided KKR to a 3rd IPL title in 2024. Harshit Rana had a superb marketing campaign, and might be utilised as a helpful lower-order batsman as effectively within the ODI format.
Right here the India squads for Sri Lanka tour –
T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.
ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
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