IMAGE: Hardik Pandya’s elevation as captain of the T20 is significant as he was also appointed assistant to Rohit Sharma for Sri Lanka’s ODIs. Photography: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images
Indian cricket’s transition phase kicked off on Tuesday with first all-rounder Hardik Pandya named captain of the T20 team for the next round against Sri Lanka, starting January 3.
The versatile 27-year-old has also been named vice-captain of the ODI side, indicating BCCI’s plans to have him as a long-term skipper in white-ball cricket once Rohit Sharma, 35, decides to call time on his international career.
While Rohit, who is recovering from a finger injury, has been named captain of the ODI series which follows the T20Is, it is clear that the shorter format will feature new faces and mainly IPL artists.
Even Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are also not part of the T20I format and there is an indication that the duo with Rohit might not be picked again keeping the T20 World Cup 2024 in mind.
The three senior players will likely be asked to focus on the 50 overs format with the ODI World Cup being played in India next year.
Yes, there will be no official announcement that Rohit has been removed from the T20I captaincy, but he, Kohli and Rahul will be phased out of the format. has not fully recovered although he has started training. But the phase-out has indeed started,” a senior BCCI source said. PTI.
Suryakumar Yadav, who has been sensational with the bat for the past 12 months, is the new vice-captain for the T20Is.
Pandya, who led the Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 title, has been touted as Rohit’s replacement after India were outclassed by England in the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
While Rohit is still recovering from a dislocated thumb, the BCCI press release does not indicate whether this is a permanent change or just for a streak.
The T20I team has a new look with two uncapped pacers Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar inducted in the shortest format.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi, two powerful IPL performers also made their way to the T20 side.
The ODI squad boast a more experienced look with Mohammed Shami returning from a shoulder injury.
Rishabh Pant is not on either white ball squad and it is understood he has been asked to report to the NCA for a two-week knee-strengthening rehabilitation program. Therefore, he will miss the entire Sri Lanka series.
But BCCI’s statement does not mention whether he was laid to rest or dropped.
Shikhar Dhawan, one of India’s finest white-ball cricketers, may have played his last game for the country after a prolonged poor run that ousted him from the ODI setup.
Ironically, even a series before Bangladesh, he led the team in New Zealand, but his dismal drop in scoring rate and inability to string together a consistent scoring streak went against him.
With Rohit being a white ball giant and Shubman Gill in full ODI form with Ishan Kishan reaching the fastest double hundred less than a month ago, India have several options and can look past Dhawan.
Indian Team for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (w/k), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
Indian team for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w/k), Ishan Kishan (w/k), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav , Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
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