India Vs Sri Lanka Series: Notable Players Sidelined In Team Selection

India's cricket board, BCCI, has revealed the squad for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka. The series, consisting of three ODIs and three T20Is, will commence on July 27.

Gautam Gambhir is set to lead as India's head coach for this tour. Despite various speculations, Rohit Sharma will captain the ODI team. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the T20 captain, surpassing Hardik Pandya.

Several notable players have been excluded from the Sri Lanka series. This includes both young talents and seasoned veterans, suggesting a strategic vision by the selectors.

Virat Kohli has confirmed his availability for the ODIs. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul also make their return to the 50-over format. However, some players have been sidelined from this series.

The exclusion of Sanju Samson from the ODI squad has surprised many fans. Although he was part of the T20 World Cup squad without playing a game, he is included in the T20I squad for Sri Lanka. Despite his strong credentials in ODIs, KL Rahul has been preferred over him.

Mukesh Kumar (in Both)

Mukesh Kumar's omission is disappointing after his impressive performance in Zimbabwe. The pacer took eight wickets in three matches but did not make it to either squad for this tour.

Abhishek Sharma (in Both)

Abhishek Sharma had a remarkable outing in Zimbabwe, scoring a century in one of the T20 matches. Despite his decent performance with the bat, he hasn't been named in the T20 squad. The selectors might be looking for more consistency from him at the domestic level before giving him further opportunities.

Ravindra Jadeja (in ODIs)

Ravindra Jadeja's absence from the ODI squad marks a significant decision by the selectors. Following an underwhelming T20 World Cup performance and subsequent retirement from that format, Jadeja might now focus solely on Test cricket. Washington Sundar's inclusion in both squads highlights Jadeja's exclusion even more.

Hardik Pandya (removed from VC)

Hardik Pandya faces a major setback as Suryakumar Yadav takes over as T20 captain for this series. Additionally, Shubman Gill has replaced Pandya as vice-captain in both white-ball formats. Pandya will only play as a regular member of the T20I squad.

This selection indicates a shift towards new strategies and perhaps a broader vision for Indian cricket's future tours and tournaments.