Team India Departs for Sri Lanka with Gill as Vice-Captain

Team India embarked on their journey to Sri Lanka on Monday for the upcoming white-ball series, commencing on July 27. The tour features three T20Is and three ODIs, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the T20I squad and Rohit Sharma captaining the ODI team.

The appointment of Shubman Gill as vice-captain in both formats raised eyebrows, as many expected Hardik Pandya to assume the role. However, chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar explained the decision, citing Gill's all-format capabilities and leadership qualities.

"Shubman is a three-format player who has shown quality over the last year or so," Agarkar said. "We want someone who can learn from senior players like Surya and Rohit, so we don't face challenges in finding a captain in case of injuries or loss of form."

The series marks the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who were overlooked in recent series. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also made the squad, despite his recent injury layoff.

Agarkar emphasized that the door remains open for former deputies like Rahul, Pant, and Pandya to assume leadership roles in the future. "We need to get Pant playing again," he said. "KL has not been part of T20s for a while, so we'll see what he can do."

The Indian team will be eager to perform well in Sri Lanka, as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. The series will provide valuable experience and help the team fine-tune their strategies.

Tags: #TeamIndia, #SriLankaTour, #WhiteBallSeries, #SuryakumarYadav, #RohitSharma