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India will set out to lay the foundation of ‘Mission 2024’ under the leadership of Hardik Pandya

Mumbai The Indian T20 cricket team will be on a new path without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the three-match series against Sri Lanka, starting here on Tuesday, with Hardik Pandya making a strong start to his innings as the full-time captain of the T20 team. Will try to lay a strong foundation for ‘2024’. Indian cricket lovers have already seen glimpses of Hardik’s captaincy when the team under his leadership won the rain-affected T20I series in New Zealand.

With the ODI World Cup slated to be played this year and the shortest format of the game not being a priority for the Indian team, it will help Hardik chalk out his strategy for the future, especially for the 2024 T20 World Cup. India’s top three batsmen Rohit, Kohli and Rahul are not part of the team and irrespective of their T20 future, the team should be prepared to move ahead without them. The biggest problem of the Indian team in recent times has been that it has not been able to play carefree cricket.

India’s top-order batsmen failed to play openly, which cost the team in the T20 World Cup. Talking about the team combination, Rishabh Pant, who was injured in a car accident last week, opened the innings in New Zealand with Ishan Kishan. Pant, however, was not selected in the team for the series against Sri Lanka, so in all likelihood, Ruturaj Gaikwad will open the innings with Kishan in the first Test at the Wankhede Stadium. Kishan and Gaikwad have been doing well in the IPL over the years and this is a real opportunity for them to showcase their skills regardless of their places in the team. With the next T20 World Cup to be played after 18 months, both of them are likely to get ample opportunities though less than 15 T20 Internationals will be played this year as the team management will give more priority to ODIs.

Hardik has another option in the form of opener Shubman Gill, who is yet to make his T20 International debut. At number three, the captain can trust world number one batsman Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik is in favor of keeping six bowlers in the playing XI and in such a situation, Deepak Hooda may get a chance in the first match. The team management will have to choose between Sanju Samson in the middle order and Rahul Tripathi, who is yet to play an international match. Tripathi hasn’t been able to make it to the playing XI for a while now and may have to stay out against Sri Lanka as well as Samson may get priority based on his experience.

Even though Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar have been included in the team, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel and Umran Malik are likely to be selected in the fast bowling attack. India has the option of all-rounder in the form of Washington Sundar and Akshar Patel. Specialist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is likely to get a chance in the first match of the series. The defending Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka will look to give a tough fight to India on their soil. Sri Lanka have retained Avishka Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who did well in the Lanka Premier League.Fernando and Karunaratne have returned to the team and will be eager to make an impact. Sri Lanka will be hoping for a good performance from Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the middle order.

Also read: Cricket Tour: New Zealand fast bowler Milne pulled out of India and Pakistan tour


Team India: Hardik Pandya (captain), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Akshar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar. Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Aslanka, Dhananjay de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Mahesh Tikshna, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Velalej , Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara.

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