India’s veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan has been dropped from the three-match ODI squad against Sri Lanka, the BCCI confirmed on Tuesday. The left-hander has been under the scanner recently, averaging 34.40 with a strike rate of 74.21 in 2022.
Furthermore, the good performances of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan in the 50-overs format have also put pressure on him. Thus, this call from the board casts a shadow of doubt on Dhawan’s future and his participation in the 2023 World Cup.
Gill had an average of over 70 with a strike rate of 102.57 in 2022 whereas Ishan Kishan hogged the limelight after scoring a fine double-century in the third ODI against Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar have earned their maiden T20I call-up for the three-match series. Hardik Pandya will lead the team in the T20I series whereas Rohit Sharma will return to captain for the ODI series.
Moreover, Pandya has been appointed as the vice-captain for the T20Is and ODIs, replacing KL Rahul, who will miss the T20I series. Suryakumar Yadav will be Pandya’s deputy in the T20I series.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli will miss the T20I series against the Island country whereas Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah continue to recover from their respective injuries.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi have been added to the T20I squad after their impressive show in the domestic circuit.
The T20I series begins on January 3 in Mumbai. The ODIs will be played on January 10, 12, and 15.
T20I squad: Hardik Pandya (C), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
