Senior players like captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and keeper Rishabh Pant have found no place in the T20 squad as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced full squads for the upcoming assignment against Sri Lanka. Hardik Pandya will be seen leading the side in Rohit Sharma’s absence.
The ODI series, which will begin on January 10 in Guwahati, will see Rohit Sharma return as the captain of the side. However, there is a slight change in the positions as Rohit will have a new deputy for the ODI series. Yes, KL Rahul has been replaced as the ODI vice-captain of the side.
Notably, ever since Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy responsibility, KL Rahul has been serving in as his deputy in all the formats of the game. And in Rohit’s absence, KL is seen leading the side. In fact, KL Rahul led India in ODI matches against South Africa in January 2022 and Zimbabwe in August 2022.
However, KL Rahul has now been replaced by Hardik Pandya as Rohit’s deputy in the ODI format of the game. He has been demoted from his position and is now reduced to the position of wicketkeeper-batsman, though.
Talking about Hardik Pandya, the star all-rounder has led team India in 6 T20I series so far, however, he is yet to lead India in ODI format. There have been rumors that the BCCI is planning to make Hardik Pandya the permanent captain of ODIs. His promotion as vice-captain can be a hint that BCCI’s strategy is on track.
Meanwhile, fans on social media came up with mixed reactions to KL Rahul’s demotion. Check out how fans reacted after Rahul was removed from his vice-captain role.
Check out the reactions of fans to this:
KL Rahul is no more vice captain in white ball format, accept this and move on. Time hi khrb ho toh kisi se kya kuch bolna orr humare bolne se bcci ko fark bhi ni pdta. Solution sirf ek hi hai usko perform krna hoga! #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/EyDk1yM4kV
— Kunal Yadav (@kunaalyaadav) December 28, 2022
KL Rahul has been removed as India’s vice captain in ODIs. Hardik is our new vc India were on a 4 ODI match winning streak under Rahul but it’s good decision to remove pressure of leadership from him.
— Cricket🏏 Lover // ICT Fan Account (@CricCrazyV) December 28, 2022
KL Rahul no longer the vice-captain in either squads… Could this be the build up to him being dropped? (If he doesn’t perform in this series as well)#INDvSL #RohitSharma #KLRahul #BCCI
— Gargi Raut (@gargiraut15) December 27, 2022
KL Rahul no longer the vice-captain in either squads… Could this be the build up to him being dropped? (If he doesn’t perform in this series as well)#INDvSL #RohitSharma #KLRahul #BCCI
— Gargi Raut (@gargiraut15) December 27, 2022
@klrahul come on champ. They took Vice captain from you not the game. Come strong 💪 waiting for your comeback pic.twitter.com/jaF6UNMEqS
— Manjunath Aradhya (@ManjunathAradh9) December 27, 2022
Demotion for KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya is new India ODI Vice Captain#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/6cTvNjxeD4
— Rishikesh Kumar (@RishikeshViews) December 27, 2022
KL Rahul dropped as ODI Vice Captain. Great News for the younger lot like Samson. Probably 1st step before actual sacking.
— 🕉 𝔻𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕒𝕜 (@KodelaDeepak) December 28, 2022
Not fair with doing Hardik pandya as a vice captain instead of KL Rahul. It’s a wrong go
— Bhanuprakasha B (@Bhanuprakasha_B) December 27, 2022
Being a fan of Cricket in India, you tend to observe every decision. Captain and Vice Captain in old days used to be given after months of thoughts. Today, every series we have it different. People like KL Rahul should have earned it when they got it. Very poor from @BCCI.
— Sanket (@awesomesanket) December 28, 2022
Being a fan of Cricket in India, you tend to observe every decision. Captain and Vice Captain in old days used to be given after months of thoughts. Today, every series we have it different. People like KL Rahul should have earned it when they got it. Very poor from @BCCI.
— Sanket (@awesomesanket) December 28, 2022
Best part about selection is KL Rahul being demoted as vice captain. Worst part is he is still there in the ODI squad. #INDvSL
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) December 27, 2022
India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is:
Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
India’s squad for Sri Lanka ODIs:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
