The Indian white-ball squads for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka were picked on Thursday. Surya Kumar Yadav has been chosen as the successor of Rohit Sharma in the shortest format, leaving Hardik Pandya behind. Shubhman Gill has been appointed as the vice-captain in both squads, hinting that the management is looking at him to take up the role in the long term, as and when the need arises. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the skipper of Maharashtra and the Chennai Super Kings was one of the major absentees from the squads that was picked 2 days back.
Gaikwad has been amongst the batters who have been consistent in the shortest format of the game. He was coming off a good series in Zimbabwe where he scored 133 runs in 3 innings at an average of a staggering 66.5 and a healthy strike rate of 158.33. He was one of the best batters from the young Indian side that inflicted a 4-1 series defeat in Zimbabwe last week.
In his T20I career so far, Gaikwad has been consistent and impressive. In his 23 appearances in the shortest format, he has piled up 633 runs, which also includes a wonderful ton against Australia. The runs have come at an average of close to 40 and a strike rate of 143.5. His IPL stats have also been very impressive, crossing the 500–run mark a few times in the past 4 years. Additionally, Gaikwad has also led India to a Gold at the Asian Games in China.
Riyan Parag, the young Indian batting-all-rounder who has been preferred ahead of the batter from Maharastra, is one of the highlights of the selection that surprised quite a few people. Another notable absentee from the squad is the young Abhishek Sharma who scored a brilliant 45-ball hundred last week at the Harare Sports Club.
The next T20 World Cup is at home and is still far away. Gaikwad might get his chances in the later tours, but for now, the selectors have decided to go without him. India will go into the series without any backup opener, with Shubman Gill and Jaiswal being the two openers picked.
India is set to play Sri Lanka in a 3-match T20I series starting on the 27th of July, which will be followed by the ODIs. All the T20Is will be played at Pallekele, while the ODIs will take place in Colombo.
