Indian team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series and the series will start on February 24. The first match of the T20I series will take place in Lucknow. The remaining next two matches will take place in Dharamshala (February 26 and February 27).
After the completion of the T20I series, the two teams will face each other in a two-match Test series. The first Test of the series will be held in Mohali and is slated to commence on March 4. The final Test match of the series will be played in Bengaluru, scheduled to start on March 12.
Recently, Rohit was announced as the leader of the Indian Test team as well and he will be leading the Indian team in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Rohit speaks
While talking about his captaincy, Rohit said that it is “a huge honour” for him but he also admitted that there will be “a lot of new challenges.”
“It is a huge honour. It is a great feeling to captain the side in all three formats of the game. Now I have a lot of new challenges to look forward to. I am definitely looking forward to lead the side successfully,” Rohit said during a virtual press conference ahead of the series against Sri Lanka.
Sanju Samson, on the other hand, is expected to return to the Indian team against Sri Lanka. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman was last seen playing in a T20I match against Sri Lanka, back in July, 2021. Rohit believes that Sanju Samson “is definitely in consideration.”
"Sanju Samson has got talent - Whenever we have seen him bat he has produced an innings where people go over the moon. He has got the skill set to succeed - his backfoot game is brilliant - he is definitely in consideration," Sharma explained.
Injury concerns
Ahead of the three T20Is against Sri Lanka, Indian team had to face some injury issues as middle order batsman Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Deepak Chahar were ruled out of the T20I series. It is important to mention that Suryakumar was announced as the Man of the Series in the recently-concluded T20I series against West Indies.
“A big setback. He was in great form but there are so many guys waiting for an opportunity. At the same time, I am sad for Surya. A freak injury. You can't control these things.”
Indian team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma showcased terrific performance after decimating the West Indies cricket team in the T20I and ODI series.
