The Indian cricket team squad is set to be announced next week for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is from July 27 to August 7. However, notable senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will not be part of this squad.
Senior players rested for India vs Sri Lanka series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to give these key players additional rest. “Senior players can take some rest and get ready for the full cricket season ahead,” a source from the BCCI told The Indian Express. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have recently retired from T20Is after the World Cup, and while Bumrah continues to play the format, he has also been given a break.
Tough decision for Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI committee
The BCCI selection committee will have tough decision in their hands regarding who to choose for in the India Tour of Sri Lanka especially in ODIs considering Champions Trophy will be played next year. Expect the return of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in the ODI team alongside Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya.
With Rohit Sharma rested, it will be a captaincy battle between KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya for India Cricket Team.
Upcoming Indian cricket season
The Indian team will face a busy schedule ahead. Post the Sri Lanka tour, they will host Bangladesh for two Tests and three T20Is starting on September 19.
Following that, they will play against New Zealand at home from October 16 to November 5 for three Tests. The team will then travel to South Africa for four T20Is between November 8 and 15, before heading to Australia for a five-match Test series beginning on November 22.
BCCI-Gautam Gambhir salary negotiations
The BCCI will soon invite applications for the team’s support staff positions as the tenures of the current coaches have ended. The board’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has already interviewed candidates for the head coach position, with Gautam Gambhir expected to take up the role. The delay in the announcement is due to ongoing salary negotiations between Gambhir and the BCCI.
Gambhir’s role and new support staff
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has indicated that the new coach will join the team from the Sri Lanka series. It is anticipated that Gautam Gambhir, a former left-handed opening batsman and mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders during their 2024 IPL title-winning season, will have a significant influence on the selection of his support staff. There is speculation about whether the team will appoint a separate batting coach, given Gambhir’s expertise.
Next chapter for India Cricket Team
As the Indian cricket team prepares for a packed season ahead, the announcement of the squad for the Sri Lanka tour and the finalisation of Gautam Gambhir’s role as head coach mark the beginning of a new chapter. The BCCI’s decisions aim to ensure that the team is well-prepared and rested, ready to take on the challenges of the forthcoming cricket calendar.
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