Veteran India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra said that Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s vice-captain for both the T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka shows that he is being looked at as the future captain. He added that KL Rahul was a potential option as Rohit Sharma’s deputy in ODIs as well. However, India will take on Sri Lanka in three T20Is followed by as many ODIs. While Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit will lead the team in T20Is and ODIs, respectively, Gill has been named the vice-captain in both formats as well.
Reflecting on the ODI squad in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “If we talk about the ODI squad, Rohit is going. Shubman Gill is the vice-captain. Interestingly enough Shubman Gill has been made the vice-captain of both teams. KL Rahul could probably have been made the vice-captain but he is not there, Shubman Gill is there. So it seems like Gill is the heir apparent. Sanju Samson’s name is not there here. Shreyas Iyer – he had a very good World Cup, he is there in the team. Shivam Dube is in both teams, both ODIs and T20Is. It means you are seeing a bigger role for him because Hardik Pandya’s name is not there in ODIs.”
Aakash Chopra also pointed out that all-rounder Shivam Dube’s selection in both formats shows that he is expected to play a bigger role for the team as well, especially in Hardik Pandya’s absence in ODIs. Chopra also added that Hardik Pandya not being part of the ODI series might be an indication of his long-term availability in the format as well. However, Hardik reportedly opted out of the ODI series due to personal reasons.
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“Although ODIs will be played later, Hardik Pandya not being there shows and gives a hint of how he probably sees himself in the ODIs, how much he wants to play the longer format. Remember, he got injured in the last World Cup and didn’t play anything for six months after that. So you never know how his career shapes up,” he again shared.
However, Aakash Chopra feels spinner Washington Sundar’s selection in both formats is a positive development as well. Meanwhile, Rana was added to the Indian squad for the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe but he didn’t get to play. He has been chosen ahead of Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, and Tushar Deshpande, who played against Zimbabwe, for the ODIs against Sri Lanka as well.
“Washington Sundar has come in both teams. I think it’s a very good selection. Washi’s name should be there in Tests as well, he is that kind of a player. The Hyderabad franchise and the Indian cricket team haven’t used him that well but he is good. He did well in Zimbabwe recently. I like this boy a lot. Harshit Rana is an interesting one. I expected him to come earlier, that he would be there on the Zimbabwe tour as well. He wasn’t there but he is there here. He went for two matches but didn’t play. He is now a part of the ODI squad here. There is no doubt that Bumrah has been rested and Mohammed Shami is still unavailable,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
