Ahead of India’s first ODI against Sri Lanka, skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged the difficulty in choosing between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper-batter position, referring to both as match-winners and appreciating the selection “problems” this creates. The first ODI will be held in Colombo on Friday, following India’s 3-0 sweep in the T20I series.
In the pre-match press conference, Rohit said, “I will need to discuss with the head coach. You will see it tomorrow when we play the game.” He expressed his pleasure at having such a dilemma, indicating the quality in the team. “It is a tough call. Both are quality players. They are match-winners in their own way. It is always nice to have problems picking up the team like that. When you are discussing too much on who to pick or leave, then that means there is quality in the team. Which I think is a good thing. I look forward to these problems till I am captain.”
Another decision Rohit faces is choosing between Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag.
Rishabh Pant has been absent due to a severe accident, allowing KL Rahul to assume the wicketkeeper role in ODIs throughout 2023, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and the South Africa tour. Now, with Pant’s return, the choice becomes tougher. Rahul has impressive stats as a wicketkeeper in ODIs, scoring 1355 runs in 35 matches at an average of 58.91, including two hundreds and ten fifties, along with 48 dismissals. Pant also posted strong numbers in 2022, with 336 runs in 12 games, including a 125* against England in Manchester.
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Reflecting on his retirement from T20Is, Rohit joked about not feeling completely out of the format. “The only difference I feel is that, I have felt like I’ve been rested from the T20Is, like it used to happen in the past. And then a big tournament will come up, and we have to again get ready for the T20Is. That is how I feel. I do not think, I am completely out of the format,” he said.
India began their Sri Lanka tour on July 27, winning the T20I series 3-0. The first ODI will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with matches on August 2, 4, and 7.
India’s predicted XI for the 1st ODI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul/Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube/Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed/Arshdeep Singh.
