New Delhi, India – Allrounder Hardik Pandya is expected to skip the ODI portion of India’s upcoming tour to Sri Lanka, while new head coach Gautam Gambhir expresses interest in fielding senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah in the ODI series.
According to a report in the Indian Express, Pandya, pivotal in India’s recent T20 World Cup victory in the Caribbean, may sit out the ODIs due to personal reasons. The squads for the Sri Lanka tour, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs, are set to be announced today, marking Gambhir’s debut as India’s head coach.
Pandya, who last appeared in an ODI during the World Cup 2023 against Bangladesh before sustaining an injury that ruled him out of the tournament, has reportedly informed the BCCI of his unavailability. His absence could open doors for players like Shivam Dube to stake a claim as a fast-bowling allrounder in India’s ODI plans.
Speculation had suggested that senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja might opt out of the Sri Lanka ODIs to extend their post-T20 World Cup break. However, Gambhir appears keen on their participation, citing an upcoming extended break for the team thereafter.
The Sri Lanka series commences with the T20Is on July 27, followed by the ODI series starting from August 2 with the final match scheduled for August 7. There will be a six-week gap before India’s next assignment, the 1st Test against Bangladesh in Chennai on September 19.
While Rohit and Kohli are currently vacationing with their families abroad, their response to Gambhir’s request is awaited. Reports also indicate that Pandya’s fitness concerns could see Suryakumar Yadav being considered for the next India T20I captaincy, with his leadership within the dressing room receiving positive feedback.
With retirements from T20Is announced by Rohit, Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, their availability for the ODI series seems probable. However, Jadeja’s selection might pose a challenge for selectors given Axar Patel’s strong contention as a spin-bowling allrounder in white-ball cricket for India.
