India's white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma has been handed an added responsibility of captaining team in the longest format as well. India's two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning on 1 March, is supposed to be Rohit's first assignment as the full-time Test captain. He has become a vital member of the Test side for the last couple of years and has become a mainstay at the top of the order as well.
The Chairman of selection committee of Indian cricket team, Chetan Sharma, made it absolutely clear that they were not even discussing options for the coveted role. With this, he also suggested two names who could be potential option for the leadership role if need be in the future.
“This series, Jasprit Bumrah will be vice-captain. We are keeping KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant under Rohit to be groomed for a leadership role in the future,” Chetan said at a virtual press conference on Saturday (February 19).
Rohit was elevated to the role after Virat Kohli stepped down from Test captaincy following South Africa series debacle.
“There was no discussion regarding other options. We were absolutely clear on Rohit Sharma. There is no problem with Rohit. It will be very important to have him fit. We will be in discussion with him regarding that. We have to groom a captain under him. Rohit will be the permanent captain. But we will be rotating the squad depending on the series,” Chetan further added.
Owing to their flop show with the bat, the veteran duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been snubbed from India's squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The chairman of India's selection committee - Chetan Sharma, said that both the batters had been spoken to about the decision, and had been told to perform in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
"We have deliberated a lot on them. We decided not to consider them for the SL series. We asked them to play Ranji. For these two matches, we decided to give chance to others. They can still make a comeback. Ajinkya got a hundred in the Ranji match. It is a bad phase. It is very important for the selectors to manage them," Chetan said.
Along with Pujara and Rahane, veteran seamer Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha have also been dropped, and like Pujara and Rahane, were requested to play the ongoing Ranji Trophy to get back among the runs and wickets.
"We have informed them that Ishant and Wriddhi will not be considered for the two-match Test series against SL. But the door is not closed to them. We have requested all four to play the Ranji Trophy," he further added.
As per the reports, Ishant Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Rahane & Pujara were individually informed last week that they will not be considered for selection for Sri Lanka Test Series.
On being asked about Hardik Pandya's availibility, Chetan said," Definitely, Hardik was an important part of the team. But until and unless he is 100% fit and bowling, we will not consider him. We asked him to play Ranji. It is up to the state team and him".
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin has been included in the side but his availability for the series will be subject to fitness.
Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill also return to the squad after being passed fit while there is also a call-up for left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar. KL Rahul will also be unavailable due to concerns surrounding his fitness.
The first match of two-match Test series against Sri Lanka will be played from March 4 in Mohali while the second and final match will be held in Bengaluru on March 12. Before the Test challenge, India will be playing three T20Is against Lanka on February 24 (Lucknow), February 26 (Dharamsala) and February 27 (Dharamsala).
India's Test squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Mayank, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, R Ashwin (subject to fitness), R Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Bumrah (VC), Shami, Siraj, Umesh, Saurabh Kumar.
India T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan.
