With T 20 World Cup 2024 winning captain Rohit Sharma and stalwart Virat Kohli now retired from the shortest format of the game, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is hoping to give them a much-needed break as the Sri Lanka tour approaches. India is set tour Sri Lanka in July-August for a limited-over series.
With the T20 World Cup winning team not featuring in any tournament at the moment, BCCI is expected to give a break to Rohit, Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming series. Moreover, reports reveal that Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to shoulder the responsibility, or it might be KL Rahul leading the side during the Sri Lanka tour.
This move from the BCCI is likely to come seeing the hectic schedule over the past few months, with the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Moreover, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both have requested the BCCI for an extended break to be available for the upcoming international assignments ahead. While it will be Rohit Sharma’s first in nearly six months, Virat Kohli has taken his second as he earlier missed the Test series against England at home.
“Both are automatic choices in ODI set up and the three 50 over games against England before the Champions Trophy is good enough practice for them. For next few months, they both will prioritize Tests and India will play 10 of them between September to January,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“The Champions trophy will happen in mid-February and they don’t need to go for a week-long 3 match ODIs in Sri Lanka. If they want, they are most welcome but I guess they would want rest,” the source further added.