India squad for Sri Lanka series announced; Rishabh Pant given ultimatum

For Indian cricket fans, the new year will begin with a Sri Lanka series as India will lock horns with the Asia Cup champions in a three-match ODI and T20I series. It was on December 27, Wednesday, the Indian management announced team India’s squad for the T20I and ODI series.

India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya would lead the side once again in the T20Is and world number one batter Suryakumar Yadav will be his deputy. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are been rested for the shortest format. Meanwhile, India’s regular skipper Rohit Sharma is still recovering from his thumb injury so he has also been left out of the squad.

Shikhar Dhawan dropped out of ODI squad

Rishabh Pant has been left out from both the T20I and ODI series as he has been asked to report at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for knee-strengthening rehabilitation. Hence, he will miss the entire Sri Lankan series. Notably, Hardik has been named Rohit’s deputy in the ODIs, and Rahul will play in the team as a wicketkeeper-batter in the team. Out of form, Shikhar Dhawan has also been dropped from the ODI squad.

Uncapped Indian speedsters Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar have got maiden T20I call-ups. In the Indian T20 League 2023 mini-auction, Mavi was bought by the Gujarat franchise for Rs. 6 crores while on the other hand Mukesh was taken by the Delhi franchise for Rs. 5.50 crores. Uncapped batters Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi has also been added in the T20I squad. In the ODI series, we will witness the likes of expierienced Mohammad Shami after recovering from shoulder injury.

India Squad for Sri Lanka T20Is:- Hardik Pandya (C), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman 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.

India Squad for Sri Lanka ODIs:- Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.