IND VS SL 2023: In wake of Rohit Sharma’s injury, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to spearhead the Indian Team for the Twenty20 International home series against Sri Lanka earlier next year.
During the second One-day International against Bangladesh, the 35-year-old Rohit Sharma sustained a thumb injury while fielding in the slip cordon during Mohammed Siraj’s second over as he attempted to grab a ball and distorted his thumb.
Following that, the right-handed Rohit was taken immediately to Mumbai for further diagnosis and missed the entirety of the Bangladesh test series.
In absence of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul was handed the captaincy errands, and although India whitewashed the home side 2-0, Rahul’s form was a quandary for the Board of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI) as the right-handed returned with the scorers of 22, 23, 10, and 2.
Now, the BCCI, in all likeliness, would appoint the 29-year-old Hardik Pandya as the Indian captain for the forthcoming T20I series against the Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka, while KL Rahul would be relinquished from the T20I squad owing to his current form.
IND VS SL 2023: Hardik Pandya Would Lead The Side as KL Rahul’s T20 Days Are Numbered BCCI Source
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Chetan Sharma, who is chairing the outgoing selection committee, will determine the squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Additionally, it has been announced that the Cricket Advisory Committee would interview the short-listed applicants to choose the selection committee members between December 26 and December 28.
According to a BCCI source, skipper Rohit’s thumb injury may prevent him from appearing for the Sri Lanka T20 series, and northpaw Hardik Pandya may be crowned the team India’s new captain. The source also asserted that KL Rahul’s days in Twenty20 International are numbered.
The BCCI Source said, “As of now, it doesn’t look like Rohit Sharma’s finger will heal enough before the T20Is and in that case, Hardik will lead the side. As far as KL Rahul is concerned, his T20I days seem to be numbered.”
Furthermore, Virat Kohli would also miss out on the Sri Lanka T20Is as BCCI is entirely revamping the T20 squad after the World T20 2022 fiasco. Experienced campaigners such as Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja, who sustained injuries are also anticipated to be renounced from the T20I squad.
Before squaring off against New Zealand and the much-anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, India will commence their home tour program on January 3rd when they take on Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series.
The first fixture will be hosted by Wankhede, Mumbai followed by the penultimate T20I fixture at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune and the final encounter would be contested in Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. The three ODIs would be hosted by Guwahati, Kolkata, and Trivandrum respectively.
