Gautam Gambhir has officially begun his tenure as head coach of the Indian team, with his debut taking place in an indoor setting.
He recently held a meeting with the national selection committee, described as a “productive session,” which lasted over an hour.
The meeting, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday afternoon, included Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee, Gambhir, and BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
Conducted online, Gambhir participated from his home in New Delhi.
Although this was an introductory meeting, there was a vigorous exchange of ideas regarding the future of Indian cricket and the squad composition for the upcoming white-ball series in Sri Lanka.
Known for his straightforward approach, Gambhir shared his preferences for the type of players he seeks, emphasizing a strong commitment.
Rohit Sharma’s Availability for SL ODIs?
While Gambhir expressed a desire for all players to be available for all three formats, he did not press this point during the meeting.
However, there are indications that Rohit Sharma may make himself available for the three ODIs in August.
With few one-day matches scheduled before the Champions Trophy next February-March, Rohit might opt to participate.
Currently on vacation in the US, he is expected to inform the BCCI of his availability soon, particularly before the online meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
If Rohit decides to play, he will likely captain the side.
In contrast, players like Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, who have been rested for the Sri Lanka series, are expected to miss out.
Shreyas Iyer, effective in the middle order during last year’s World Cup, is anticipated to return, along with KL Rahul.
Should Rohit not play in the ODIs, Rahul could be a strong candidate for captaincy.
There are also reports suggesting Hardik Pandya may skip the ODI leg of the series.
Discussions are ongoing regarding Pandya’s suitability for captaincy in the three T20Is in Sri Lanka.
Despite serving as vice-captain during the T20 World Cup and performing notably in the US and West Indies, his fitness history raises concerns, leading some to consider Surya Kumar Yadav as a potential captain.
No decision has been finalized yet.
The Indian team is set to play three T20 Internationals and three ODIs in Sri Lanka from July 27 to August 7.
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