While Team India is in England for the upcoming five-match Test series, another Indian team is going to play a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. Shikhar Dhawan will lead the team whereas Rahul Dravid will coach as well. He said that the tour will provide players with an opportunity to showcase their talent as well.
“This is a very good team. There is positivity, confidence in our team and everybody is confident that we will do well. There is lot of excitement,” Dhawan said at the virtual pre-departure press conference before flying to Sri Lanka. “It is a new challenge but at the same time it is a great opportunity for all of us to show our talent. Everybody is waiting (for the tour to begin). 13-14 days have passed since we are in quarantine, so the players are waiting when we can hit the ground and we have 10-12 days for preparation.”
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Meanwhile, the pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the deputy of Shikhar Dhawan. They will play three One-day Internationals and as many Twenty20 International games, beginning from July 13 and conclude on July 25 at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo as well.
However, the Board has named a 20-member squad where veterans like Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have been included. Alongside them, youngsters like Devdutt Padikkal, Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and others will be there as well. While talking about the ideal composition of the team, Shikhar Dhawan said: “The boys are doing smart work and are looking forward to these matches. The players have already performed well, be it in the IPL. The team is a nice blend of experience and youth.”
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On the other hand, while addressing the media, Rahul Dravid said that the goal is to win the series in Sri Lanka while having the “best combination.” He also shared that the tour would serve as a good opportunity for the players to be in the T20 World Cup as well. “When you are in a developmental level or working at the pathway level, the goals are different. We have a really different goal here. It’s a short series so it won’t be possible to give everyone an opportunity,” said Dravid on Sunday (June 27), while speaking at an online press conference.
