[ad_1]
Gambhir, a two-time World Cup winner, has taken over as India’s head coach, while Suryakumar, one of the premier T20I batters, has been appointed the new T20I captain.
Gambhir replaces Rahul Dravid, who led the team to the finals of the last editions of each ICC event. Known for his tenacity and intense approach, Gambhir is expected to bring a different coaching style that players will need to adapt to, alongside the leadership of Suryakumar.
Suryakumar’s promotion to captain surprised many as he was chosen over Hardik Pandya despite having less experience in the role. The selectors explained their decision by stating they wanted a captain who was on the field “more often than not” and considered “dressing room feedback” when selecting the team.
Ajit Agarkar and the selection panel have ample time to rebuild the squad before the next T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in 2026.
With T20I retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, young talents like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Riyan Parag will view this period as a crucial opportunity to secure their spots.
As a replacement for Jadeja, Axar Patel seamlessly fits into the team, and India’s all-rounder department is strong with Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar among the options.
Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for this tour, allowing Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj to shine in favorable conditions at the Pallekele International Stadium, where the pitch supports pace and bounce.
Conversely, Sri Lanka will miss two key bowlers, Dushmantha Chameera, due to bronchitis and respiratory infection, and Nuwan Thushara, who has a broken finger.
Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka have replaced them; Madushanka notably took a five-wicket haul the last time India and Sri Lanka clashed in the ODI World Cup.
[ad_2]
Source link