Revealed: How Riyan Parag did a parachute landing in team India's ODI and T20I squads for Sri Lanka

Riyan Parag was added to India's T20I and ODI squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. India plays three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka from July 26-August 7.

Parag made his T20I debut for India in the series against Zimbabwe. He batted twice in the series with a best score of 22. He batted at number five or six in the two games that he has played.

Now the young Rajasthan Royals batter has earned his maiden ODI call-up. Apart from his selection, the selection of Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar has been the talking point.

If reports are to be believed, Parag's ability to adapt according to the situation has played a big role in his ODI selection. Parag bats at number five in domestic cricket for Assam and has been a heavy run-scorer in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He scored 552 runs in the 2022 edition of the tournament.

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Riyan Parag To Be Tested In The Middle-Order

In IPL 2024, he scored 573 runs for the Royals batting at number four, and did adapt to the different conditions and opposition. He averaged 52.09 in the tournament and alongside Sanju Samson was the key contributor for Rajasthan Royals.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma who had a terrific beginning to his T20I career was not included in any of the sides against Sri Lanka. Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the side in ODIs. Shubman Gill has been named the new vice-captain with Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, the new T20I skipper dropped from the ODI side.

KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been recalled. Sanju Samson who played in the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe is a part of the T20I squad but not a part of the ODI side. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are part of the ODI and T20I side as all-rounders. Jadeja after his retirement from T20I cricket has now been dropped from the ODI squad.

Mohammed Siraj is part of both the ODI and T20I sides and will lead the bowling attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah who has been rested from this series. Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep Singh are the two pacers included in both the formats as well. Yuzvendra Chahal have not been included in any of the sides, while his spinning partner Kuldeep Yadav has been picked for the ODIs and rested for T20Is.

Ravi Bishnoi has been picked as the specialist leg spinner in T20Is. There are reports that Gambhir will groom the leggie for both formats. He was a crucial player in the XI for Lucknow Super Giants under Gautam Gambhir and he will continue to back him in the T20I side. He might be included in the ODI side as well. Thus the two sides are very much new-look sides with several players axed and several new players included.

India T20I and ODI Squads For Sri Lanka Series

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj

ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana

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