India vs Sri Lanka 2024 ODI Series Best Possible Squad List
Hardik Pandya expected to lead as we look at the best squad list for the Indian team for India vs Sri Lanka 2024 ODI series squad.
The date is 9/7, and the BCCI has officially announced Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian team. What a date they have chosen to announce Gambhir as the Head coach, who is always remembered for his selfless match-winning knock of 97 in the ICC ODI World Cup 2011 final. It’s been more than a decade since Gambhir played for India, and in the last few years has only focused on the Coaching role.
Gambhir’s first stint as the Head Coach of the Indian team starts with the 2024 Sri Lanka ODI and T20 series. India will tour Sri Lanka this July for the 3-match ODI and T20 series. Coincidently, the series is against the same team that he scored the match-winning 97 in 2011. While Rohit and Virat have retired from T20Is, will they continue to be rested for the ODI series as well?
Post the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, India played only one ODI series, and that was in South Africa. India rested their key players for that series, but will they continue to do so for the Sri Lanka series as well? Well, India have only 6 ODIs before the next ICC event, the Champions Trophy 2025. So, this could be the only time to test the bench before India play to full strength against England. So, let’s find out the best squad that Team India can deploy for the 2024 ODI series vs Sri Lanka.
Role of Senior Players?
The perennial question that will be asked is whether India play full-strength, or rest their key senior players. Well, India have only 6 planned ODIs before the Champions Trophy in Feb. If the experienced players miss this series, the only option shall be the ODI series v England. Well, ideally, Rohit and Virat should be playing this series as they aren’t a part of T20Is too. But India might want to test the bench for one last time, and thus they may be rested for the series.
So, with Rohit, Virat, and Bumrah rested, and Shami yet to recover, the next question is who shall captain the side? Well, it has to be one between Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. While KL Rahul did captain the side in South Africa in Hardik’s absence, with Hardik back, he should take the reign from KL Rahul, and Rahul should become his deputy. It feels like a more logical move as Hardik has always been looked upon as the Vice Captain of the side.
Now, with Virat, Rohit, and Bumrah not there, in their place, we should see India opting for Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, and Avesh Khan. All three were a part of the ODI series vs Zimbabwe, and they continue to do so. But India should see the return of Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja. These three weren’t a part of the SA tour, but with Champions Trophy in mind, they should get the opportunity.
Bowling Lineup?
Talking about the bowlers, India will be without Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami for the Sri Lanka series. In their absence, Mohammed Siraj should lead the pace bowling with support from Captain Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar. While Kuldeep should lead the spin department, he should get support from Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.
Meanwhile, in terms of wicket-keepers, KL Rahul should continue to remain as the first-choice keeper for Team India. Other than KL Rahul, India may persist with Sanju Samson, and Rishabh Pant should be recalled after proving his form and fitness in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Who features in the playing 11 will be an interesting choice, but Pant and KL may be given the opportunity first.
India vs Sri Lanka 2024 ODI Series Best Squad List for Team India
- Rinku Singh
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shreyas Iyer
- Shubman Gill
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Axar Patel
- Hardik Pandya (c)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Arshdeep Singh
- Avesh Khan
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Mukesh Kumar
So, that’s about the best possible ODI series squad for India vs Sri Lanka 2024. Overall, India should select a 16-member squad as shown above. There should be 5 front-line batters, 3 wicket-keepers, 3 all-rounders, and 5 bowlers in the side. Apart from the ones shown here, the other players in line could be Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Akash Deep.
