India squad for Sri Lanka series: Hardik T20 captain, Rohit back for ODIs; Pant, Dhawan dropped; Mavi gets the first call
Hardik Pandya will lead the Indian T20I team in the first home series against Sri Lanka in 2023, the BCCI announced on Tuesday.
This will be the second consecutive series in which Hardik will lead India in T20Is in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma since the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final defeat to New Zealand in November. The three-match T20 series begins in Mumbai on January 3, followed by Pune and Rajkot
Rohit, who is recovering from a thumb injury suffered recently in Bangladesh, will return to lead the side in the ODI series when the series begins in Guwahati on January 10. Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram will host the remaining matches of the series.
Mavi, Mukesh call for T20 matches; Pants omitted
Uttar Pradesh fast bowler Shivam Mavi and Bengal fast bowler Mukesh Kumar received their first T20I call-up. Last Friday, the uncapped duo bagged big deals in the IPL 2023 mini-auction. While Mavi was signed by defending champions Gujarat Titans for Rs 6 crore, Mukesh Kumar was sold to Delhi Capitals for Rs 5.5 crore.
Rudraaj Gaekwad has returned to the side after a brilliant performance in domestic T20Is and ODIs.
Rishabh Pant, who was India’s vice-captain in the recent T20I tour of New Zealand, was dropped from the 16-man squad. In the absence of Bandh, Suryakumar Yadav was elevated as Hardik’s vice-chancellor.
Indian veterans KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have also pulled out of the T20 series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is this year, has also been dropped from the squad as youngsters Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik are expected to take over the role.
Dhawan, Pant removed from ODIs; Shami returns
In a crucial development, veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has been dropped from the ODI squad after a poor run in the recent series. Dhawan led India’s second-string side against South Africa and New Zealand in late 2022, but failed to deliver his primary role at the top of the order.
While Rahul and Kohli will return alongside Rohit in the ODIs, seamer Mohammed Shami will also make a comeback after a shoulder injury in early December.
The whole team
India squad for Sri Lanka T20I: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Rudraj Gaekwad, Subman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh , Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
Sri Lanka ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Subman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, K.L. Rahul (Wak), Ishan Kishan (VK), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep. Yadav, Akshar Patel, Mohammed. Shami, Mohammed. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
