The BCCI selectors is likely to keep Rohit Sharma away from the T20I team and is set to continue with Hardik Pandya as the captain for the T20I series in West Indies.
India will tour West Indies for an all-format tour in July-August. While Rohit Sharma will lead the side in Test and ODIs, the Hitman is expected to be not selected for the T20I series.
In the name of “rest” and with focus on the other two formats, both Sharma and Virat Kohli have not played a T20I since last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, where India exited from the semi-final.
Pandya has since led India in T20Is and SKY has been his deputy. Pandya, who recently captained Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2023 final, is likely to continue as the captain in T20Is, though he’s not been named the first-choice captain which is still Rohit Sharma.
Under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, India have won 8 T20Is and lost only 2.
India’s likely squad for WI T20Is:
India will take on West Indies in a 3 T20I series in West Indies. The selectors are expected to reward good performers in the IPL like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohit Sharma with a callup to the T20I squad for the WI tour.
Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, and Yashasvi Jaiswal would be the opening options. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya will be the middle-order lynchpins. It would be interesting to see whether the selectors retain Rahul Tripathi as he had a poor IPL 2023 season.
Sanju Samson could be tussling for a spot with Jitesh Sharma, who had a terrific IPL 2023 with Punjab Kings. Rinku Singh, after his heroics for KKR in the IPL 2023, could get his maiden India call-up.
Ravindra Jadeja could be rested from the T20I series and Axar Patel would slot in directly. Washington Sundar is another all-rounder who could be in the squad, if fit.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are likely to be continued in the national side. The pace attack is expected to comprise Mohit Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Mavi.
