As India’s ODI series against Sri Lanka approaches, there has been uncertainty regarding the availability of certain senior players. Reports previously indicated that veterans like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah sought an extended break following their triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. However, it appears that the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is not in favor of granting this request.
According to a report in the Indian Express, Hardik Pandya has also expressed his desire to skip the ODI series due to personal reasons. While Pandya’s request might be accommodated, Gambhir is adamant about having Kohli, Rohit, and Bumrah available for the series.
Gambhir has reportedly communicated to the trio that the Indian ODI team will have a significant break after the Sri Lanka series, thus he expects the senior stars to participate.
The players have yet to respond to Gambhir’s request, with Rohit and Kohli already taking a break and travelling abroad with their families. Kohli flew to London immediately after Team India’s felicitation ceremony in Mumbai, while Rohit was spotted at Wimbledon in London before heading to the United States.
India’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starts on August 2 and concludes on August 7. Following this series, India will face England in an ODI series in February next year, with a five-month gap between these series. After the England series, Team India will compete in the Champions Trophy, which is expected to be held in Pakistan and either the UAE or Sri Lanka.
