Rohit Sharma leads new-look India for Sri Lanka tri-series

Rohit Sharma will lead a new-look Indian side in the tri-nation Twenty20 International series in Sri Lanka in March.

The selectors have decided to rest key players, including regular captain Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the wicket-keeper, from the 15-member squad.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav are the other notable exclusions from the squad that won the three-match T20I series in South Africa 2-1 on 24 February.

Shikhar Dhawan has been named vice-captain of the side. Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Vijay Shankar have all earned call-ups.

Hooda and Sundar were part of the Indian squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka at home last year. While Sundar was impressive in the one match he was a part of, picking up 1/22 in four overs, Hooda could not get a game.

Siraj, the right-arm seamer, has also been recalled after being left out of the South Africa T20Is following two average performances against New Zealand and Sri Lanka last year. He joins Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur in the side.

Pant, who last played a T20I against Windies in June 2017, has enjoyed a stellar run of form for his state, Delhi. He is the second wicket-keeper, behind Dinesh Karthik.

Confirming that Dhoni had requested for rest, MSK Prasad, the chief selector, said that workload of the players was kept in mind while drafting the squad.

“We’ve kept in mind the workload and upcoming schedule while finalising the team for the Nidahas Trophy,” said MSK Prasad after announcing the squad on Sunday, 25 February. “The high-performance team has suggested that adequate rest should be given to our fast bowlers to help improve athletic performance, maximize rest and prevent injury.

“Mr MS Dhoni was not available for selection as he had requested for rest.”

Suresh Raina and Manish Pandey, who had an impressive T20I series against South Africa, were retained, as was KL Rahul.

The tri-series, which also involves Bangladesh, is to mark the 70th year of Sri Lanka’s independence. India will take on the hosts in the opening game on March 6, and each side will play each other twice before the final on March 18.

Squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-capt), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj, Rishabh Pant