With the announcement of the Indian squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, the outgoing selection committee has signaled towards a transition phase in Indian cricket. The names of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were missing from the T20I squad that will be led by Hardik Pandya.
While there has been no official communique from the BCCI relating to moving past Rohit in the shortest format of the game, sources in the know of things have clearly indicated that Hardik is going to be the leader of the T20I side moving forward keeping an eye on the T20 World Cup 2024. Moreover, Hardik becoming the vice-captain of the ODI side in the presence of KL Rahul is a firm promotion for the flamboyant all-rounder in the leadership group of the Indian cricket team.
Though Rohit’s thumb injury is yet to heal completely, the Indian skipper has been hitting the nets regularly at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Kohli has also been not picked in the T20I squad. However, there was no mention of any ‘rest’ for the Indian batting icon. Similarly, Rahul’s name was missing from the T20I side as he is due to get married to Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty. He will return in the ODI series having been listed as a specialist ‘wicket-keeper’. Rahul, though, will not lead India again.
It Is highly unlikely that either of Rohit, Kohli and Rahul will return to the T20I set-up in the near future with focus shifting towards the 2023 ODI World Cup, to be hosted by India.
End of Shikhar Dhawan?
With just months from the ODI World Cup, the selection committee took another major call by dropping veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan. Though the southpaw has been leading the ODI squad in the absence of Rohit as seen in the recent series against New Zealand, his slump in form forced the selectors to take the hard call. Dhawan averages just 34.40 with a strike rate of 74.21 in 2022 – his lowest since 2013.
With young guns in Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan raking up numbers in international and domestic circuits, Dhawan’s career in the Indian jersey may well be over, following a superb career.
What’s happening with Sanju Samson?
Sanju Samson is likely to get a longer rope in the T20I side as a middle-order bat. However, sources in the know of things have indicated that his immediate future in ODIs is uncertain.
“Shreyas Iyer has performed brilliantly, Suryakumar Yadav is next. KL Rahul hasn’t done too bad in ODIs in middle-order. Where do you fit Sanju in? You’ll see him play more matches in T20Is,” said a BCCI source in the know of things.
Rishabh Pant missing from the squad
Rishabh Pant has played non-stop cricket. With the upcoming four-Test series against Australia on cards, Pant has been asked to report at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for a niggle he is carrying on his knee. The knee strengthening rehab programme is expected to commence from January 3 for two weeks.
Next up – CAC to meet to pick the selection committee
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) is all set to meet physically in Mumbai on December 29 and there are high chances that fans will get an official update on the completion of process before the calendar hits 2023. All of Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe and Sulakshana Naik will interview the candidates for the selection committee. The process of shortlisting candidates has started.
The current chairman of selectors, Chetan Sharma (North Zone) will be interviewed again along with Harvinder Singh (Central Zone). It could be very well be the case that Sharma continues as the chairman or the representative from North Zone if he agrees to work under a new head. Venkatesh Prasad (South Zone) is another major name who is likely to be interviewed during the entire process.
India’s squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar