Star Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has been excluded from India’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, sparking a backlash on social media. Gaikwad, the captain of Chennai Super Kings, amassed 133 runs in three innings during India’s T20 series against Zimbabwe, making his omission a surprising move for many fans and experts.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the squad on Thursday, naming Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of Team India. Shubman Gill, who led the team in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, has been appointed vice-captain.
In a notable departure from past selections, Hardik Pandya, who has previously captained the team, will not be assuming the captaincy role for this series.
The squad will also see the return of pacers Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj, along with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, all of whom were rested during India’s tour of Zimbabwe.
The T20I series against Sri Lanka is set to start on July 27 and will include three matches, followed by ODIs beginning on August 1. The T20I games will be held on July 27, 28, and 30, marking the start of the bilateral series.
The upcoming T20I series is also notable for the new head coaches leading both teams. Sanath Jayasuriya, the renowned all-rounder, has been appointed as the interim head coach for Sri Lanka. India will be led by former opener Gautam Gambhir, who is stepping into the role for the first time, succeeding Rahul Dravid, the T20 World Cup-winning coach.
The last bilateral white-ball series between India and Sri Lanka occurred in July 2021, with India winning the ODI series 2-1 and Sri Lanka taking the T20I series by the same margin. Rahul Dravid was the coach for India during that series, which saw Shikhar Dhawan as captain.
This series will be India’s second T20I series after their victory in the T20 World Cup, where they defeated South Africa. Recently, India also secured a 4-1 win in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s exclusion has ignited debates among fans, who argue that his recent performances deserved a place in the squad.
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