KL Rahul set to captain India for Sri Lanka series

Team India is all set for their next assignment. Sri Lanka will tour India for a white-ball series, and according to recent reports, star batter KL Rahul will be making a return to the side and is expected to lead India in the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka. 

Regular skipper Rohit Sharma will reportedly be rested for the ODI series, with Virat Kohli being given a rest as well. The series will also be the first for the side under head coach Gautam Gambhir, and KL Rahul has been elected as the frontrunner to lead India in the Sri Lanka series.

KL Rahul missed out on India’s squad for the T20 World Cup but is now set to feature in the ODI leg of the Sri Lankan tour, and take up the leadership role as well. Furthermore, with the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is expected to take charge of the side in the shortest format.

“KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the absence of Rohit Sharma as the board believes he makes runs in the longer format,” according to journalist Vipul Kashyap.

According to sources, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be taking a well deserved break and will only focus on Test cricket for the time being. With three ODIs against England before the Champions Trophy, it should be more than enough practice for the duo.

“Both are automatic choices in ODI set up, and the three 50 over games against England before the Champions Trophy is good enough practice for them. For next few months, they both will prioritize Tests and India will play 10 of them between September to January,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. 

The three-game ODI series against Sri Lanka is expected to be underway in August 2024, and there is still a decision to be made for the skipper. Where KL Rahul could lead the side, the favour could also go to Hardik Pandya. However, recent reports have suggested that Pandya is unlikely to feature against Sri Lanka.