Hardik Pandya (Source :ICC/Getty)
There were speculations of Hardik Pandya opting out of the Indian team for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Now, further reports that the all-rounder will travel to the island country with the team for the T20I series as a captain and go in ‘completely fit’. Suryakumar Yadav was the other contender for the role, had the Baroda cricketer pulled out. It seems that Suryakumar will have to take a step back as Hardik is back in the fray.
Gautam Gambhir, who was appointed as the new Head Coach of India men’s senior team, wished all four seniors, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah to board the plane. But with Pandya bracing to lead the team and Kohli vacationing in London, the younger lot has a task at hand. A source according to News18 confirmed that the 30-year-old has already provided the green signal for the impending tour.
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“Hardik Pandya has already informed the Indian cricket board about his availability for the Sri Lanka series, and he will be returning home after playing the three T20Is. There are no injury concerns whatsoever and he is completely fit. He wanted the leave due to personal reasons and has been granted the same,” said the source.
“There have been no injury concerns since that freak injury in the World Cup. He has played the complete season of the IPL without any discomfort and was in top shape during the T20 World Cup. That’s nearly three months of non-stop cricket,” it added.
India squad for Sri Lanka is yet to be announced
India will be playing three T20I and as many ODIs against the Asian rival starting from July 27. Gambhir will make his debut as the India coach with the tour, and the second-string Indian team has just returned from Zimbabwe, winning the T20I series by 4-1.
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With the squad yet to be announced, all eyes will be on Abhishek Sharma who dazzled with his debut century in just his second international game.
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