India Squad SL Series: Rishabh Pant AXED from T20 & ODI teams, Ishan Kishan & Sanju Samson return, Follow IND vs SL LIVE

India Squad SL Series: India vs SriLanka LIVE: India’s new year begins with some explosive changes. After a string of poor shows in T20s, Rishabh Pant has been shown the door. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan have returned to the T20 fold. KL Rahul is also a big miss in the T20 team as BCCI begins India T20 Reboot with Hardik Pandya as the captain. Pandya has also been elevated to vice-captain role in ODIs, removing KL Rahul. Hence, it serves Rahul as a warning. Another poor show can lead to his ouster from ODIs as well. Follow IND vs SL LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

As reported by InsideSport earlier, the BCCI has come up with fitness as an excuse. Pant will instead report to the NCA next week as he has a knee niggle.

India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.

India’s squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.

“Rishabh has done well in Tests and he is not out of form. But yes he has not got many runs in T20s. He will be back in the ODI series. He is crucial for us in the Australia series. In T20s, we have quite a few options including Ishan and Sanju who are getting runs in domestic,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.

India Squad SL Series: Virat Kohli takes TEMPORARY BREAK from T20Is, will return for SL ODIs, Follow IND vs SL…

India Squad SL Series: Rishabh Pant AXED from T20 & ODI teams, Sanju Samson & Ishan Kishan return, Follow IND vs SL LIVE Updates

India Squad SL Series: Hardik Pandya to lead, Samson returns for T20s, KL Rahul dropped as Vice-captain in ODIs, Jadeja-Bumrah still UNFIT: Follow IND vs SL LIVE

Rishabh Pant’s untouchable stature has received a string of blows following lacklustre shows in T20s. He is no more invincible in T20s. While he is still the Number 1 in Test format by far, the same is not the case in T20s and ODIs. While he has tried to improve his strike rate in T20s, especially in T20s, he has had to compensate for that with his form.

Rishabh Pant in T20s in 2022:

In 2022, Pant got the most opportunities, playing 25 T20s.
While he maintained a strike rate of 132.84, he had a dip in scoring form.
He was dismissed easily far too often on widish deliveries.
In fact, he could only manage just 1 half-century in 21 innings.
Among his two other rivals, Ishan Kishan had the most fifties with 3 in 16 innings.
Sanju Samson played just 5 innings but still managed a half-century.
He also struck at 158.4 strike rate, the best among the keepers and only 2nd best after Suryakumar Yadav.

Battle for spots among wicketkeepers
Players	Matches	Innings	Runs	Strike Rate	Avg	50/100
Rishabh Pant	25	21	364	132.84	21.41	1/0
Ishan Kishan	16	16	476	127.95	29.75	3/0
Sanju Samson	6	5	179	158.4	44.75	1/0

India Squad SL Series: Rishabh Pant AXED from T20 & ODI teams, Sanju Samson & Ishan Kishan return, Follow IND vs SL LIVE Updates

With India looking at a revamp in T20 format, selectors have to try out others. With Rishabh Pant clearly not working out, India will look at Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson. Ishan recently slammed the fastest double century in ODIs. Sanju has backed his claims with runs whenever he has got an opportunity.

I hope Sanju Samson is part of India squads for both T20I and ODI series against SL and NZ. And gets a consistent long run. #INDvSL #INDvNZ

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 26, 2022

While earlier selectors wanted Sanju to be consistent, all the Rajasthan Royals captain demands are consistent backing from them and the team management. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer too demanded the team management give him a longer run.

“I hope Sanju Samson is part of India squads for both T20I and ODI series against SL and NZ. And gets a consistent long run,” Jaffer said in a tweet.

IND vs SL: Why Jaffer thinks Samson should be given a longer run?

Sanju Samson has been unlucky not to cement his place in Team India. Samson had looked promising with the limited opportunity presented to him.
He was not picked for the T20 World Cup nor he toured with team India to Bangladesh tour.
Samson is in good form in Ranji cricket having already scored three fifties.
With Pant as well as KL Rahul struggling in the middle order in T20Is and ODIs, Samson’s attacking play might come in handy.
With 17 ODIs to be played before the World Cup, Samson can be tried in the middle order or as a finisher.

As for team selection, the outgoing selection committee will announce the squads for SriLanka series by Wednesday. Hardik Pandya will lead with Rohit Sharma out injured.

“The old committee will select the Sri Lanka white ball squad. As of now, it doesn’t look like Rohit Sharma’s finger will heal enough before the T20Is and in that case, Hardik will lead the side. As far as KL Rahul is concerned, his T20I days seem to be numbered,” a BCCI source told PTI.

IND vs SL T20I & ODI series