Shikhar Dhawan Appointed As Team India's Vice-Captain For Nidahas Trophy 2018

Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the vice-captain of Indian cricket team for Nidahas Trophy 2018.

Rohit Sharma, the regular vice-captain, has been elevated to the post of captain as Virat Kohli has been rested.

Dhawan is one of the experienced players and a regular member of the side too. Hence, he was appointed as deputy to Rohit for the series.

With Indian team all set to play a mega season ahead, the opportunity to lead the team can come to Dhawan anytime.

The India opener has experience leading Delhi in domestic cricket.

This is the first time when he has been given the national vice-captaincy duty.

Meanwhile, this will be the second series where Rohit will go as the captain of Indian cricket team.

Incidentally, it was against Sri Lanka when he was appointed as vice-captain, and it was against the same team where he made his captaincy debut.

Talking of the squad, a total of five changes have been made in the side.

Kohli, MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have been rested.

Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda have been called to the side.

Rishabh last played for India last year against Windies, before being dropped.

Siraj, Sundar, and Hooda were the part of the T20I side during the T20I series.

Shankar, on the other hand, was called to the Test side for Sri Lanka series.

This series might clear the debate for the second wicketkeeper in the T20I side as both Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh are expected to be the part of the playing XI.

Given that Dhoni is still the first choice wicketkeeper-batsman in limited overs format, the race is open between Karthik and Rishabh.

The Nidahas Trophy will start on March 6 with India taking on Sri Lanka in the opener.

The final of the tournament will be played on March 18.

Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan (VC), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj, Rishabh Pant (wk)