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Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma (Source: Twitter)
The latest squad announcement by the Indian Cricket Board for the ODI and T20I series has been a hot topic of discussion. Fans of some of the players who weren't on the squad were mostly interested in the squad announcement, but most didn't pay attention to the bigger picture.
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The squad announcement, according to the news source PTI, marks the beginning of the end for veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Kohli reportedly requested a break from the T20Is at home against Sri Lanka while Rohit is still recovering from an injury he sustained in the ODIs against Bangladesh.
This was not the case, according to PTI, as both famous cricketers, along with KL Rahul, will no longer be involved in the Indian Team's plans for the game's shortest format. The Indian Cricket Board is not likely to declare that Rohit has been relieved of his captaincy and that Hardik Pandya has taken over, according to the report. Seniors will be phased out silently.
“Yes, there will be no official announcement that Rohit has been removed from T20I captaincy but he along with Kohli and Rahul will be phased out from the format. Obviously, Rohit’s dislocated thumb injury hasn’t completely healed although he has started training. But phasing out has indeed started,” a senior Indian Cricket Board source privy to the development told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The last two performances in the international competition suggested that it is time to look beyond the stars. India hasn't won a 20-20 World Cup in 15 years. The choice may be difficult, but it must be made because star players who have helped their nation win countless games are now significantly underperforming.
India's squad for T20Is against Sri Lanka
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