Indian captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli, along with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, could be rested for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in August. In their absence, either Hardik Pandya or KL Rahul may be appointed captain for this tour. Sources suggest that these senior players have requested the BCCI for some time off.
Rohit Sharma has not taken a break for nearly six months, having been active since the Test series in South Africa in December-January. He has been part of subsequent series including the Afghanistan T20Is, England Test series, IPL, and most recently, the T20 World Cup. India is scheduled to play three T20Is (July 27-30) and as many ODIs (August 2-7) during the Sri Lanka tour.
According to a BCCI source, “Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are key players in the ODI team and the three 50-over matches against England before the Champions Trophy will serve as ample preparation for them. They will prioritize Test matches in the upcoming months and play 10 Test matches between September and January.”
India’s Schedule:
India will play two Test matches against Bangladesh, followed by three Test matches against New Zealand, and then compete in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with five Test matches against Australia.
Competition for Captaincy Between Pandya and Rahul:
The source added, “The Champions Trophy will be held in mid-February and they do not necessarily need to go for the three ODI matches scheduled in Sri Lanka for a week. If they want, they are welcome, but I think they will want to rest.” In Rohit’s absence, Hardik Pandya appears to be the most likely option to lead the Indian team, but KL Rahul, who led the ODI team in South Africa, is also vying for the captaincy.