The announcement of Team India’s squad for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka brought mixed emotions for Suryakumar Yadav. While he was thrilled to be named the captain for the T20Is, he was also disappointed to be dropped from the ODI squad. The selectors and new head coach Gautam Gambhir made their position clear, reflecting Suryakumar’s recent struggles in the 50-over format. Despite being part of India’s ODI World Cup squad in 2023, Suryakumar couldn’t meet expectations, leading to his exclusion from the ODI team for the Sri Lanka tour. Although considered one of the best T20 batters globally, his ODI performance has been underwhelming, averaging just 25.76 in 37 matches. His ability to play a patient game and accelerate scoring has been questioned.
With only six ODIs remaining before the ICC Champions Trophy next year, selectors aim to give other players opportunities. According to The Indian Express, Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Reddy is being considered for his versatile skill set. Hardik Pandya, India’s premier seam-bowling all-rounder, is not part of the ODI series against Sri Lanka but may return for future series.
Gautam Gambhir’s ‘Process-Driven’ Approach
Like India’s ODI captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasizes a process-driven approach in selection decisions. This approach has highlighted players like Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as appealing options in white-ball cricket, leading to Ravindra Jadeja’s exclusion from the squad.
For the Sri Lanka series, Riyan Parag could be given a chance. Parag is a capable lower-order batter who can also contribute with the ball. His consistent performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy have established him as a reliable all-rounder over the past few seasons. However, Parag may not be the first-choice option, given the presence of more experienced players like Axar and Sundar in the squad.
