The Indian team will be in action once again from next week. Sri Lanka will tour India for a three-match ODI and T20 series. A total of 6 matches will be played between the two teams within 12 days. The T20 matches will be held on January 3, 5, and 7, while the ODIs will be played on January 10, 12, and 15.
The Chetan Sharma-led selection committee selected the young team for the series and handed over the captaincy to Hardik Pandya. However, the senior players will be seen in the ODI squad. Rohit Sharma wasn’t available for selection while KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were rested for the series.
The trio will return for the ODI matches. Former India opener, Gautam Gambhir picked his playing XI for the ODIs. There was no place for KL Rahul in Gambhir’s final XI.
“It’s very difficult to look beyond Rohit and Ishan Kishan to open the batting, Virat at three, Surya at four, [and] Shreyas at five, because he’s been incredible in the last one-and-a-half years. Yes, he’s had issues against the short ball, but he’s been able to manage it. You can’t be the best against everything but if you’re able to manage it and got the numbers going for you, you can’t look beyond Shreyas at No. 5 and Hardik [Pandya] at 6,” he told ESPNcricinfo.
KL Rahul’s bad run in international cricket
Rahul’s time in international cricket has been below par as of late. The Indian opener is struggling to get going as he failed to prove himself in the recently concluded T20 World Cup and also in other bilateral series. Looking at his downfall, the outgoing All India Selection Committee removed the wicketkeeper-batter from the vice-captaincy position in white-ball cricket and his future in T20Is looks dull at the moment. Earlier, Gambhir reminded him that there’s always someone who can replace him in the squad.
“If you don’t perform, someone else will take your position. That’s not only with Sanju or KL, it’s with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as well. If they don’t perform, you will start questioning about their positions too. That’s what international cricket is about. No one is indispensable. So you got three ODIs, you bat in the middle-order, try and get those runs, because ultimately it’s the performance that keeps you in the side. Not the name, not your talent,” Gambhir was quoted as saying.
Here’s how fans reacted:
That is the love for the country we need. Above personal friendship or pleasing someone. Well done GG 🫡🫡
— Rakshit Chauhan (@Rakshit0096) December 31, 2022
This guy is never biased. If he feels like someone who works with him needs to be out from Intl. Duties, he says without any hesitation.
— Mukund Agarwal (@RealMukundA) December 31, 2022
Bhai isne toh puran ko itna mehnga khareeda hai auction me
— GHATAK SINGH Cool 🇮🇳 (@GhatakCool) December 31, 2022
Isme demag nhi hai bss bolta rehta hai ye isko seriously mat Liya karo
Gill performed the whole year and now is replaced by 1 match performance of kishan . God level logic of Gautam bhai 😂
— Priyanshu Srkian (@SrkianPriyanshu) December 31, 2022
When Gambhir criticizes Kohli, Rohit or KL, their respective fandom starts trolling him. But GG has always spoken the truth.
— LazyLoki (@Aditya66026572) December 31, 2022
Sach karwa hi hota hai.
Fraudiya B @klrahul should take retirement out of shame now.
— Ankit (@JerryAnkitIN) December 31, 2022
He supports kl rahul and because of kl doesn't want to open in odi then he name ishan kishan there…. #sochojara
— Sadanand Sagar (@SadanandSagar8) December 31, 2022
He is right. Anyway KL will bottle in crucial match
— LORD (@till18dec) December 31, 2022
