The Indian squad for the 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka has been announced by the selectors and some senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have been missing from the squad as there are speculations that the selectors are looking beyond these guys and now they want to prepare a young team of specialists for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Hardik Pandya, the skipper:
In absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya will be leading the team in the T20Is and there are some reports as per which the latter will be the team’s skipper in the future as well in T20I even after the return of Rohit Sharma who will make a comeback in the ODIs against Sri Lanka.
KL Rahul & Virat Kohli:
KL Rahul has been going through a tough phase for a long time so it is no surprise that he has been dropped but some reports suggest that he has himself asked for leave from the BCCI because he is tying the knot in January. It is being said that Virat Kohli hasn’t been dropped, he is being rested and it is also true that dropping him at this moment will be a little difficult for the selectors as he was the highest run getter for team India in the year 2022 and in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 as well. If we talk about the whole year, Virat has played 20 T20Is for the country and scored 781 runs (average – 55.78) while in the T20 World Cup, in 6 matches, he has scored 296 runs (average – 98.66) including four fifties.
Gautam Gambhir’s take:
While speaking on a cricket show, the former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir talks on the non-selection of senior cricketers for the Sri Lankan T20I series and he seems to support the selectors if they are looking at young cricketers. Gambhir emphasizes on the clarity and communication between the players and the board; he says that if the selectors have made up their minds to look beyond these senior cricketers, they should be told about it and there is nothing wrong as most of the countries have even started doing it.
The main goal:
Gautam Gambhir adds that usually there are many who begin crying after the selectors start looking beyond some individuals but it is not about individuals, it is about the plans for winning the next T20 World Cup because a team wants to go and win over there. Talking about the seniors, Gambhir states that if these guys haven’t been able to win the T20 World Cup, the young generation players such as Suryakumar Yadav should be given the chance to fulfill the dream.
The template and aggression:
He further says that he feels SKY and Ishan Kishan should be there, Hardik Pandya is already there and he will like to try guys like Sanju Samson, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, etc. who can play fearless cricket. Gambhir states that we have heard a lot about the template and aggressive cricket before the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 but in important matches, that template went out of the window.
The young generation:
The cricketer turned politician hopes that the young generation players may be able to achieve that template and play in the manner in which everyone wants the Indian team to play.
Do you agree with Gautam Gambhir? Let us know your opinion in this regard.