Young all-rounder Riyan Parag could retain his spot in the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tour, even with senior players returning from their break. Riyan Parag recently earned his first call-up for the Zimbabwe series under captain Shubman Gill. Parag, known for his middle-order batting prowess with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL, made his international debut in the opening match of the recent five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. However, despite Parag's inclusion, the team led by captain Shubman Gill fell short in their chase of a modest 116-run target in Harare on July 6. Despite India opening match loss, the selectors might be impressed enough to keep him in the mix. India are slated to play a three-match T20I series followed by as many ODIs.
Riyan Parag's recent performances in the Zimbabwe T20I series were a mixed bag. In the first match, he only managed two runs off three balls. He didn't even get a chance to bat in the second match before being dropped from the playing XI for the third. However, he was brought back for the final game and managed a slightly better score of 22 runs off 24 deliveries. Despite this somewhat inconsistent showing, The Indian Express reports that Parag will be included in the T20I squad for the upcoming series in Sri Lanka. There's even talk of him being selected for the ODI matches as well. The selectors seem to be placing their faith in Parag's potential, valuing his ability to contribute not just with the bat, but also with his part-time bowling.
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Ishan Kishan to be snubbed again?
Going by a report in Indian Express, most members of India's ODI World Cup 2023 squad are expected to retain their spots for the upcoming ODI series in Sri Lanka, there are a few notable exceptions. The injured Mohammed Shami and rested players like Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli won't be featuring. Additionally, Ishan Kishan seems likely to miss out. Kishan's absence stems from his decision to leave the South Africa tour midway through last year, citing mental fatigue. Reports suggest this move didn't sit well with then-captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid. Rishabh Pant, who recovered from his injury and played a crucial role in India's recent T20 World Cup triumph, is expected to take Kishan's place as the wicketkeeper-batsman for the Sri Lanka series. Ishan Kishan's road back to the Indian team appears to be a long one. Despite being requested by the BCCI to play domestic cricket and prove his form, the 26-year-old opted to focus on preparing for the IPL instead. This decision, coupled with his earlier departure from the South Africa tour, resulted in his removal from the central contracts list and subsequent exclusion from all formats of the national team.
Shreyas Iyer's return on cards?
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer presents a different scenario. After losing his central contract alongside Kishan, Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in IPL 2024 and enjoyed a strong batting season himself. This impressive performance could pave the way for his return to the ODI squad, alongside KL Rahul, another top run-scorer from the 2023 World Cup. With both Pant and Rahul in contention, it remains to be seen who will take on the wicketkeeping duties for the Sri Lanka series.
Updated IND vs SL T20I series schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 27 July | 1st T20I | Pallekele |
| 28 July | 2nd T20I | Pallekele |
| 30 July | 3rd T20I | Pallekele |
Updated IND vs SL ODI series schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 2 August | 1st ODI | Colombo |
| 4 August | 2nd ODI | Colombo |
| 7 August | 3rd ODI | Colombo |
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