IND vs SL LIVE: Big headache for Rohit Sharma- India captain Rohit Sharma will be under the pump with amorous talents in the India squad ahead of the Sri Lanka series. The skipper will have to make five tough calls heading into the T20Is with the return of senior players and budding youngsters. He will have to find the right balance between experience and youngsters. Follow India vs Sri Lanka LIVE score updates on InsideSport.IN
At InsideSport, we take a look at 5 big decisions that Rohit Sharma needs to take ahead of the Sri Lanka T20Is.
IND vs SL LIVE: Big headache for Rohit Sharma, Indian captain ready to make 5 tough calls before 1st T20 vs Sri Lanka
Jadeja returns, will Venkatesh Iyer keep his place?
R Jadeja will return to team India after months-long absence due to rehabilitation after injury. The champion all-rounder missed the SA tour and home series against West Indies. Team India would be keen for his services in the built-up to the T20 World Cup.
Will he take place of Venkatesh Iyer? The young KKR batsman is performing well & the Indian think tank is unlikely to disturb his progress. Venkatesh Iyer delivered with both the bat and bowl during the West Indies series. The in-form batter cum sixth bowling option Venkatesh Iyer remains a big puzzle to solve for the Team India skipper.
Jadeja for Ravi Bishnoi? In all likelihood young Bishnoi will have to make way for Jadeja. Team management is likely to bring in Yuzvendra Chahal in Indian XI. In that case, Jadeja will be team’s prefer choice over Bishnoi.
Ruturaj got just 1 chance – what to do with him? If he continues at top Ishan Kishan will have to bat at No. 3 / Shreyas Iyer to drop to 5
Head coach Rahul Dravid had hinted that the youngsters will not be judged on single performances. The development could mean Ruturaj Gaikwad’s stay in the playing XI against Sri Lanka in absence of rested Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and injured KL Rahul.
If Ruturaj Gaikwad bats at the top with India skipper, Rohit Sharma then Ishan Kishan might be dropped at No.3 in such a case. The likes of SuryaKumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer will play at No.4 and No.5 respectively.
“T20 is a tough format. We are asking them to high-risk cricket, shots all the time and we don’t them on a few games. It’s not the way it’s done. We try and give them consistent run, opportunity to play and not judge them on a game-to-game basis,” Team India Head coach Rahul Dravid spoke about Ishan Kishan’s on & off performances against West Indies.
Who opens for India? In all likelihood captain Rohit Sharma will resume his duties as opener. As KL Rahul still being unavailable, team is likely to persist with Ruturaj Gaikwad as Rohit’s partner with Ishan Kishan pushed to No. 3.
“You can’t specify that you’ll get as many no. of games. Sometimes it’s combination, injuries. You cannot give a player the same number of games. We like to believe and try and give the players confidence in the group and the squad and we are not going to be judged on one game whether it’s Ruturaj Gaikwad or Avesh Khan. They are here because they performed and deserve to be here. Hopefully, we’ll try to be fair and give enough opportunities we possibly can,” Rahul Dravid spoke of Gaikwad after the last T20I.
Jasprit Bumrah returns – who gets dropped?
Jasprit Bumrah will be drafted straight into the Playing XI after his comeback. He is likely to take the place of injured Deepak Chahar who suffered an injury in the third and final T20I against the West Indies. Thus, Harshal Patel is expected to keep his place ahead of Chahar or rested Shardul Thakur who played against WI.
Kuldeep Yadav got just 1 game but now will make way for Chahal?
Kuldeep Yadav is waiting in the wings after playing just a lone ODI in the last 6 white-ball games since the comeback. He will be desperate for an opportunity but has been overlooked for Yuzvendra Chahal throughout the T20Is. At the same time, India will be hoping to give him a chance at his home ground but at the moment he doesn’t fit for the opener. The Selection Committee called him an “asset” during squad announcement but it remains to be seen if he gets a game in T20Is.
Most importantly – Mohd Siraj still will warm the bench?
With Harshal Patel in form, Mohd Siraj could once again warm the bench as the battle for the third pacer heats up ahead of Sri Lanka. Siraj is seen as the third pacer in Test cricket and ODIs but the same doesn’t apply in T20Is with Jasprit Bumrah and in-form Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Siraj didn’t play a single game in the recently-concluded T20I series against West Indies.
IND vs SL LIVE: Big headache for Rohit Sharma, Indian captain ready to make 5 tough calls before 1st T20 vs Sri Lanka
IND vs SL series: 5 big players to watch out for in T20I series feat. Wanindu Hasaranga- check out
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