Cricket

Ruturaj Gaikwad's omission from India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The Chennai Super Kings captain has been in impressive form, scoring 133 runs in three innings during India's recent T20 series against Zimbabwe.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad on Thursday, appointing Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of Team India. Shubman Gill has been named as the vice-captain, following his leadership role in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. In a notable change from previous selections, Hardik Pandya, who has captained the team in the past, will not assume the captaincy role for this series.The squad will see the return of pacers Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj, as well as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, all of whom were rested during India's tour of Zimbabwe.The T20I series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to commence on July 27, consisting of three matches, with subsequent ODIs set to begin on August 1. The T20I matches will take place on July 27, 28, and 30, marking the beginning of the bilateral series.This series is also significant due to the introduction of new head coaches for both teams. Sanath Jayasuriya, the celebrated all-rounder, has been appointed as the interim head coach for the Sri Lankan team. For India, former opener Gautam Gambhir will take over as head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid, the T20 World Cup-winning coach. This marks Gambhir's first assignment in this role.The last bilateral white-ball series between India and Sri Lanka took place in July 2021, with India winning the ODI series 2-1 and Sri Lanka securing the T20I series by the same margin. Rahul Dravid coached the Indian team during this series, which featured Shikhar Dhawan as the captain.The upcoming series will be India's second T20I series following their victory at the T20 World Cup, where they defeated South Africa. Recently, India also clinched a 4-1 victory in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.Gaikwad's exclusion has sparked debates and discussions among fans, who believe his recent performances warranted a spot in the squad. Many experts have expressed surprise at the decision, given his impressive form and the fact that he was part of the team that won the T20 World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir recently held a virtual introductory meeting to discuss the vision for Team India. The meeting, which lasted for an hour, included members of Ajit Agarkar's selection committee, Gambhir, and BCCI secretary Jay Shah.One of the key topics discussed was the squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. With senior players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah expected to be rested, opportunities may arise for players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, who were not included in the T20 World Cup squad.It was also reported that although captain Rohit Sharma is expected to miss the series, there is a possibility that he may make himself available. With vice-captain Hardik Pandya unavailable for selection in the ODI series due to injury concerns, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav are potential candidates to lead the side.Gambhir, who attended the meeting from his home in New Delhi, outlined his vision for the team, emphasizing the importance of commitment and dedication. He also discussed the type of players he wants in the squad, focusing on those who are willing to give their all for the team.The India vs Sri Lanka white ball series will commence on July 27, featuring three One Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals. The series will provide an opportunity for the new-look Indian team to showcase their skills and prepare for future challenges.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of Team India, carries the weight of a nation's expectations on his shoulders. The 42-year-old, a former left-handed batsman with over 10,000 international runs, played a pivotal role in India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2007 and ODI World Cup victory in 2011.As a mentor, Gambhir led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title this year. He succeeds Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after guiding India to their first global title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.Gambhir's tenure will commence with the upcoming away series against Sri Lanka, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs. Ahead of the series, Star Sports released a video of Gambhir discussing the importance of a balanced team composition."First, you need to identify players with a fearless approach," Gambhir said. "In a format like 50 overs, you need a mix of players. You should have anchors and match-winners. The change in rules has made a difference. We used to have only one new ball, but now we have two and five fielders inside, so the role of the part-timer has diminished.""You don't see enough reverse swing or purchase for finger spinners anymore," he added. "But I believe that when we talk about this new approach, you have to identify players who can adapt to those roles easily. Some players cannot adapt, so why push them to play in a way that doesn't come naturally to them?""For me, identifying players and getting the right mix is very important," Gambhir emphasized. "We shouldn't think that we have to play with a certain template and select all 15 players with a similar mindset."India has not won an ODI global title since the 2013 Champions Trophy, and Gambhir will be eager to change that in the upcoming year. He is the only Indian and one of four international cricketers to have scored centuries in five successive Test matches.