What’s the Best ODI Squad List for Team India vs Sri Lanka 2024?
Rohit Sharma expected to lead as we look at the best predicted squad and players list for India vs Sri Lanka 2024 ODI series.
We are only a couple of weeks away from Team India’s upcoming ODI series vs Sri Lanka, and the selectors and management are already taking this on priority from a team selection point of view. It has been almost 7 months since India last played an ODI series. Most of the senior players were rested, and KL Rahul had led the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma. It was quite a successful series for Team India as they won the ODI series 2-1.
The upcoming ODI series vs Sri Lanka is one of the two opportunities for India to not only play together as Team, but also to test the bench strength. As we know, the next mission for Team India is the Champions Trophy 2025, and the ODI series vs England and Sri Lanka are the two planned series before the actual event in Feb and March 2025.
Now, the BCCI are yet to announce the squad, but the most important question that the selectors will have to ask is whether they play a full-fledged squad vs Sri Lanka, or rest their senior most players so that they get a good time to focus on the Bangladesh Test series, which follows it. Well, we will look at the answers to these questions as we find out the best possible squad and players list for Team India for the 2024 ODI series vs Sri Lanka.
India vs Sri Lanka 2024 Best Predicted ODI Squad List:
As we know Gautam Gambhir has taken over from Rahul Dravid as the Head Coach of the Indian team. As understood from his thought process, he doesn’t want any player to get rest as there are only 6 planned ODIs before the Champions Trophy 2025. So, even as players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli want rest, they might not get it. So, expect India to go ahead with a full-fledged squad. However, in case this doesn’t happen, we can see India resting Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya.
Batters
Starting with the openers, Team India should see Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the first-choice options with most probably Ruturaj Gaikwad as the backup opener. Rohit and Gill have been opening together for more than a year, and have done pretty well. So, expect India to continue with them, and keep Ruturaj Gaikwad as the backup opener.
Coming to the other batters, we will see Virat Kohli as the specialist batter alongside Shreyas Iyer. While Shreyas and Virat are first-choice for the playing 11, India could also include Rinku Singh as the backup batter in case India opt for a 16-member squad. Also, unfortunately, India are unlikely to include Suryakumar Yadav, who has had mediocre returns in ODIs.
WKs
If we talk about the wicket-keepers, the team will be delighted with the return of Rishabh Pant, who has missed being with the team for more than a year due to accidental injuries. Alongside Pant, India are likely to play Sanju Samson as well as KL Rahul with KL Rahul most likely expected to play as a specialist batter if Pant is included in the playing 11.
All-rounders
Talking about the All-rounders, India will be selecting their top 3 all-rounders, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. These three have been the first-choice options for Team India in the white ball format, and thus get the preference in the ODI format as well. Other than these three, India can also include Washington Sundar as the backup spinner and all-rounder in the squad.
Bowlers
Talking about the bowlers, India will most likely be Without Mohammed Shami, who is still recovering from his injury. So in place of Shami, Arshdeep Singh seems the right choice for the team. So, expect Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav to be the top 4 bowlers in the squad.
India vs Sri Lanka 2024 Best Predicted ODI Squad List for Indian Team:
Batters: Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill & Virat Kohli
WKs: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant & Sanju Samson
All-rounders: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja & Washington Sundar
Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav & Mohammed Siraj
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Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
