Skipper Hardik Pandya assures youngsters of support ahead of T20I series against Sri Lanka

India’s stand-in captain Hardik Pandya has assured to back the young players of the squad to the fullest ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday, January 3. The series will see many new and untested players getting a chance to prove their mettle.

With the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul not a part of the T20I squad against Sri Lanka, the selectors, and the team management have decided to field a young brigade with an eye on the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

All the players have that support from my side: Hardik Pandya

“What we have noticed and told the boys is that just go out there and express [yourself], which they will do. And it's up to us that how we back them,” said Hardik Pandya while addressing the press ahead of the first T20I as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"What we have said is that we're going to back you to the core. All the players have that support from my side that I'm going to back them to the core. Who are here, these are the best cricketers in the country, that's the reason they are here. So, I have to make them believe that, which is a fact as well,” he added.

“For me, it's important that how can I make them feel that they're the best of their business. And if I can get that thing done, and can get that confidence in them, then I don't think that they will have any problem in international cricket. I think they will flourish and have amazing careers ahead,” the star all-rounder further added.

Rohit is yet to completely recover from the thumb injury that he sustained during the Bangladesh tour last month while Virat has also been rested. 

Meanwhile, this will also be India and Sri Lanka’s first T20I meeting after their famous Asia Cup encounter in September last year. The Lankans had handed a six-wicket defeat to the Men in Blue in their Super 4 encounter which eventually ended the Rohit Sharma-led side’s campaign.