Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that they will be available for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka next month. The BCCI senior selection committee is expected to meet on Thursday evening via a Zoom call, as board secretary Jay Shah is attending the International Cricket Council annual conference in Sri Lanka.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, in consultation with the BCCI, has decided that Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian T20I team for the three-match series, while Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the Indian side in the ODIs. The Indian Express had earlier reported that Suryakumar was likely to captain the T20I side, as the selectors were uncertain about appointing Hardik Pandya as skipper due to his past fitness issues. Pandya was India’s vice-captain during their triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.
The selection committee has informed the BCCI that they are open to replacing Suryakumar as captain in the future if his performance does not meet expectations. The BCCI is considering Suryakumar to lead the Indian team at the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Although Pandya seemed a front-runner for the captaincy, it is understood that BCCI officials and selectors explained their long-term plans to him, highlighting why they preferred Suryakumar for the role.
Meanwhile, the senior players in the team have agreed to the request of newly appointed coach Gautam Gambhir to participate in the three-match ODI series, as it will be his first series as coach.
Pandya will only be playing in the T20Is and will not be part of the ODI squad. The senior selection committee has decided to rest their ace pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, for the short series. Rishabh Pant will feature in both the Indian squads.
Rajasthan Royals middle-order batsman Riyan Parag has pushed his case for a spot in the Indian middle order and is likely to be picked for both the ODI and T20I sides. The selection committee is trying out new faces for the future, and Parag, who can also bowl, is likely to secure a berth in both squads. Parag’s inclusion means Suryakumar will not be part of the ODI squad, and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal will feature only in the T20I squad.
Shreyas Iyer, who last featured in the ICC World Cup 50-over team, will make his way back into the Indian ODI side. The BCCI had excluded Iyer from the annual contract earlier this year, but with his return to international cricket, he will soon be reinstated in the BCCI’s annual contract. Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dubey is likely to feature in both squads, especially with Pandya opting out of the ODIs.
The BCCI and the selection committee are making strategic decisions to shape the future of Indian cricket. By choosing Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain and resting key players like Bumrah, they aim to strike a balance between nurturing new talent and maintaining the team’s competitive edge. With the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, the Indian team will showcase a mix of experienced players and promising newcomers, setting the stage for an exciting cricketing contest.
