Sri Lanka Tour: Suryakumar Yadav to Captain T20I Squad, Rohit and Kohli Set for ODIs

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India's squads for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka after a selection meeting postponed by a day to Thursday. The players will depart for Sri Lanka on July 22, with the tour kicking off with a three-match T20I series starting on July 27, followed by a three-match ODI series.

Key Highlights:

• Suryakumar Yadav as T20I Captain: Suryakumar Yadav has been named the new T20I captain for the Sri Lanka series. This announcement follows Rohit Sharma's retirement from T20Is after leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title last month.

• Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODIs: Despite initial expectations of their absence, seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned for the ODI series. Jasprit Bumrah was also expected to miss the tour but will play in the ODIs.

• Gautam Gambhir as Head Coach: The Sri Lanka tour marks Gautam Gambhir's debut as the head coach of the Indian team, following Rahul Dravid's resignation after the T20 World Cup.

Why Suryakumar Yadav as Captain?

Hardik Pandya, the vice-captain during the T20 World Cup, was expected to be promoted to captain. However, reports suggested that Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya’s Mumbai Indians teammate, would take on the role. Gambhir, who shares a strong camaraderie with Suryakumar from their time together at Kolkata Knight Riders, has often expressed regret for not fully utilizing Surya's potential in the KKR outfit.

Rohit Sharma's Return to Lead Team India

KL Rahul was anticipated to return and lead the Indian team in the ODI series if Rohit Sharma had been unavailable. However, with Rohit’s return, Rahul will play as a key member of the squad. Hardik Pandya, one of the heroes of India's T20 World Cup triumph, will take a break during the ODI series due to personal reasons.