The much-awaited India squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, featuring both ODIs and T20Is, has been revealed. In a significant development, Suryakumar Yadav has been named the captain of the T20I team, marking a potential shift in leadership for the shortest format.
This decision comes as a surprise, with Hardik Pandya being overlooked for the T20I captaincy role. This tour will be the first official assignment for India's new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, and his vision seems to be taking shape.
The tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled for July-August, will mark Gautam Gambhir’s debut as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. This series is poised to set the tone for the future, with strategic decisions and player selections taking center stage.
The national selection committee, under the chairmanship of Ajit Agarkar, convened online on Tuesday evening to finalize the squad. The hour-long meeting was reportedly cordial, but it followed three eventful days.
The inclusion of Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain signals a new era, especially with the backdrop of Gambhir’s influential role in the decision-making process.
T20I Squad of India for Sri Lanka tour: 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.
Gambhir’s influence was pivotal in Suryakumar Yadav’s elevation to captaincy. Known for his strategic acumen and leadership potential, Suryakumar has already led India in seven T20Is. However, his leadership will be tested as India gears up for the 2026 T20 World Cup on home soil.
The selection of Harshit Rana and Riyan Parag for the ODI squad marks a significant moment in their careers. Both players had previously debuted in T20Is in Zimbabwe and have now earned their maiden ODI call-ups.
Shreyas Iyer also makes a return to the Indian squad, donning the Indian blues for the first time since his BCCI contract was terminated.
The tour of Sri Lanka will be Gambhir’s first official assignment as head coach. His footprint is already evident in the selection decisions, including the call-up of Harshit Rana. The Delhi pacer, who shone during Kolkata Knight Riders' title run in IPL 2024 under Gambhir’s mentorship, has been rewarded with a place in the ODI squad.
India ODI Squad for Sri Lanka: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman 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.
| India tour of Sri Lanka | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Day | Date | Time | Fixture | Format | Venu | Result |
| 1 | SAT | 27-Jul-2024 | 07:00 PM | SL vs IND | T20 | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | India won by 43 runs |
| 2 | SUN | 28-Jul-2024 | 07:00 PM | SL vs IND | T20 | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | India won by 7 wkts (2nd innings reduced to 8 ovs due to rain, DLS target 78) |
| 3 | TUE | 30-Jul-2024 | 07:00 PM | SL vs IND | T20 | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | Match tied (India won the super over) |
| 4 | FRI | 02-Aug-2024 | 02:30 PM | SL vs IND | ODI | R Premdasa internation Stadium | Match tied |
| 5 | SUN | 04-Aug-2024 | 02:30 PM | SL vs IND | ODI | R Premdasa internation Stadium | Sri Lanka won by 32 runs |
| 6 | WED | 07-Aug-2024 | 02:30 PM | SL vs IND | ODI | R Premdasa internation Stadium | Sri Lanka won by 110 runs |
Also Read: India ex-bowling coach told why Umran Malik is not being selected in Team India?
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