While initial set of media reports had suggested that senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah would be rested for the Sri Lanka series as the team management wanted them ready and raring to go for a packed home season to follow, there now seems to be a change in plan. The latest update is that the team wants Rohit and Virat, who have retired from T20Is, to play in the ODI series.
The reason is very simple. The two are very much in plans for India’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign in 2025. Before that, there are not too many ODIs in India’s schedule which means this is a perfect opportunity for the likes of Rohit and Virat to sort their plans out, keeping that ICC tournament in mind.
However, while Rohit has reportedly agreed to participate in Sri Lanka ODIs, sources close to the development have confirmed that Virat Kohli has not confirmed his availability for the same. That means Kohli will or won’t play in the three-match ODI series depending on whether or not he wants to give this series a skip. A final call from his part has not yet come.
Meanwhile, the BCCI Selection meeting which was initially scheduled for July 17 will now happen on July 18. The meeting is likely to be held online after which the ODI and the T20I squads for the Sri Lanka series will be announced.
India’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka will commence with the T20Is with the first of the three matches scheduled on July 27 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. For the ODI leg of the series, the teams will move to Colombo. The series will also mark new head coach Gautam Gambhir’s first international assignment.