After Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir pressurizes Virat Kohli into playing Sri Lanka ODIs
Published - 18 Jul 2024, 04:24 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:15 AM
India captain Rohit Sharma and his predecessor Virat Kohli have reportedly made themselves available for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Team India will be visiting Sri Lanka later this month for three T20Is and as many ODIs. India are reportedly set to leave for Sri Lanka on July 22 before the T20Is get underway on July 27. On the other hand, the ODI series will begin on August 2.
It was expected that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would be rested for the series after a hectic period in which they played the IPL before helping India win the T20 World Cup last month. With India having a hectic schedule for the rest of the year as well, the senior batters were reportedly set to be rested for the Sri Lanka series. As per the reports, KL Rahul was set to lead the team.
However, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have agreed to play in the upcoming ODI series against the Islanders. According to a report in the Indian Express, the duo made themselves available for the series after newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir requested the senior players to take part in the three-match series as it will be his first series as a coach.
India squad to be announced soon:
The report further stated that although Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be playing the ODI series, Team India will be without two key players. Both Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah won't be playing the ODI series. Pandya is set to play the T20I series but won't be playing the ODIs. On the other hand, Bumrah will be rested for the entire tour.
Meanwhile, the India squad for the Sri Lanka squad is expected to be announced today. The selection meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday (July 17) but was postponed and will now take place on Thursday.
The upcoming series will be India's first ODI assignment of the year. India last played an ODI series in December last year when they toured South Africa. Kohli and Rohit had missed that series as well. In Rohit's absence, KL Rahul had led India to a 2-1 series victory. Rohit and Kohli's last ODI appearance came in the final of the ODI World Cup in November last year.
