India’s newly-appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is set to meet chief selector Ajit Agarkar to finalize the squads for the upcoming T20I and ODI matches against Sri Lanka. The series, scheduled to begin on July 26 with the T20I series, will see India playing three ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka. With key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah on rest, all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s workload will play a crucial role in determining his future in the team.
There are speculations that KL Rahul, who previously led India in an ODI series, might be appointed as the captain in the 50-over format. The decision on whether Hardik Pandya will be named the permanent T20I captain or not is still pending, with sources suggesting that he is the frontrunner to take over the role. Suryakumar Yadav is likely to be appointed as the vice-captain for the T20I squad.
Key players from the T20 World Cup-winning squad are expected to be retained for the Sri Lanka series, with additions like Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, and Washington Sundar in the mix. In the absence of Bumrah, pace attack will be led by Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. The selectors will also discuss the workload of Rishabh Pant, with Sanju Samson and Dhurv Jurel being considered as backup keepers for the Sri Lanka tour.
In the ODI format, the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer is anticipated, given the strong relations they share with coach Gambhir. Rahul, who has been out of T20 contention, will be closely monitored for his performances. Shubman Gill is also being looked at as a potential captaincy backup for Rohit Sharma in Tests. The strategic calls made by Gambhir and Agarkar will be critical in shaping the future direction of the Indian team across formats.
