While the Indian team is currently in England for the five-match Test series in August, the second string of the Indian team is ready to travel to Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series next month as well. While Shikhar Dhawan will lead the team, batting legend Rahul Dravid will coach the team.

However, the team has given maiden call ups to a few players and young players like Sanju Samson, Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, and a few are part of the team as well. With the T20 World Cup a few months away, this series will help players to prepare for the marquee event. Moreover, selectors will get more options for the T20 World Cup squad as well.

However, 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.

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“The selectors are there and we’ll come up with what we think is the best combination to try and win the series. There are a lot of young kids and this will be a great experience for them even if they don’t play just the opportunity to be with the Indian team and interact with the likes of [Shikhar] Dhawan, Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar], and other senior players. They can learn a lot. In principle … there are a lot of youngsters on this tour and a lot of them will get an opportunity. Will everyone get an opportunity? Probably with a squad of 20 is a bit unrealistic.”

“These are only three games before the World T20. I’m sure the selectors and the management would have a pretty fair idea by now as to what is kind of squad they are looking for. Before the T20 World Cup, there is the IPL. In that sense, this series gives may be an opportunity for maybe one or two places … give them a few more options. You can’t read too much into it as well. There might be that odd spot and people could raise their hands during these T20 games. We have a couple of selectors travelling with us. We’ll touch base with the management in the next couple of weeks. I’ve had a little bit of contact with them but didn’t disturb them during the World Test Championship. We’ll touch base and see what their thoughts are and what ideas they have, and see if we can implement that in these T20 games,” he again shared.

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Meanwhile, Prithvi Shaw, who has been in sublime form in the domestic cricket – didn’t get a chance in the Test team. On the other hand, Devdutt Padikkal, who has also impressed recently with his smart batting technique, in both the IPL and domestic cricket, will try to showcase their skill on the big stage. Along with them, there is Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has made a name for himself while playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

“It’s crucial for a lot more people other than just Prithvi. Obviously, it is a crucial tour… (for someone like) Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, or a lot of the younger boys who have come on this trip and would be extremely keen to do well, and set a marker for the selectors. Whether they’ll get selected in the T20 World Cup or not, that’s a call that the selectors and the Indian team management will take, and you know what their plans and strategies are,” further added Rahul Dravid.

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“But certainly good performances in tours like this against international oppositions would certainly (help) anyone – whether it’s Prithvi or so many other people. If you’re able to put a marker down or if you’re able to show that you have the ability to do it at this level against international quality opposition, that’s certainly something that selectors will take note of. From that perspective, it’s a crucial tour for a lot of people. It’s an important tour, (but) at the end of the day… it doesn’t mean if you don’t have a good tour of Sri Lanka that you don’t make it. And it doesn’t mean that just because you do well against Sri Lanka you’ll make it automatically,” Rahul Dravid concluded.