The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka gets underway at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday (August 2). ODI skipper Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli will be seen back in back in the format for the first time after the 2023 ODI World Cup loss to Australia in Ahmedabad last year.
Rohit and Virat, who took a long break after the T20 World Cup 2024 win in West Indies last month have landed in Colombo ahead of the ODI series. Apart from the duo, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav and debutant pacer Harshit Rana have also reached the Lankan capital, according to Cricbuzz website.
Captain Rohit Sharma clicked at Colombo airport Sri Lanka with Shreyas Iyer
The mission of CT for Captain @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/iFkfzYprZO
— ????????????????????????????⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) July 29, 2024
The additional members of the Indian cricket team have checked into the ITC Ratnadipa hotel in Colombo, according to the website.
“Team sources from Sri Lanka have revealed that the ODI players will participate in a net session at the stadium on Monday. The Indian team management has deputed Abhishek Nayar, one of the assistant coaches under head coach Gautam Gambhir, to oversee the session in Colombo. Nayar left for Colombo on Monday morning after the second T20I on Sunday night,” the website was quoted as saying.
The remaining members of the Indian ODI team will joining Rohit Sharma and other after the completion of the third and final T20I match against the Lankans at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday. Suryakumar Yadav-led side already have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first two T20I matches over the weekend.
Also according to the website, former South Africa pacer and Pakistan team bowling coach Morne Morkel will join Gautam Gambhir’s support staff as the new bowling coach replacing Paras Mhambrey in September.
“His (Morne Morkel’s) involvement with the team is anticipated to begin with the home series against Bangladesh, starting in September,” the report in the website read.
Apart from Gambhir, Sairaj Bahutule is touring Sri Lanka as the interim bowling coach along with assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T. Dilip.
India ODI squad for Sri Lanka series: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
