A new chapter in Indian cricket begins at the end of July as Gautam Gambhir embarks on his inaugural assignment as the head coach of the Men in Blue. The Indian team is set to travel to Sri Lanka for a series of white-ball matches. The tour kicks off with a three-match T20I series, followed by three ODIs.
The BCCI has announced the squad for this important series, which Gambhir will use to identify and groom the next generation of players for the 2026 T20 World Cup, following the retirement of stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja from the shortest format. In a significant move, Gambhir has appointed Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain.
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Initially, Hardik Pandya was the favourite to take over the captaincy after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20Is. However, Gambhir made the strategic decision to appoint Suryakumar due to Pandya’s recurring fitness and injury issues. This bold choice reflects Gambhir’s vision for the team’s future and his confidence in Suryakumar’s leadership abilities.
Suryakumar Yadav, known for his innovative batting and sharp cricketing acumen, is expected to lead India in the 2026 T20 World Cup. His appointment as captain signals a new direction for the team, focusing on building a resilient and dynamic squad.
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Gautam Gambhir’s first series as head coach will be closely watched as he begins to shape the team’s strategy and performance on the international stage. This new leadership duo aims to bring fresh energy and success to Indian cricket, setting the stage for exciting times ahead.
India T20I squad for Sri Lanka series
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, Mohammed Siraj.
India ODI squad for Sri Lanka series
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep SIngh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahamed, Harshit Rana.
