India’s second-string team will tour Sri Lanka for three ODIs and as many T20Is.
Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha picked three players who can lead Team India on the limited-overs tour to Sri Lanka in the absence of Virat Kohli.
With Team India set to lock horns against New Zealand in the final of the ICC World Test Championship and then England in a five-Test series in the next few months, a specialist white-ball team will tour Sri Lanka in July and are set to play three ODIs and three T20Is.
However, with the white-ball specialist side set to play in the absence of Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma, there have been some talks around regarding who will captain the side.
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Talking about the same, former Indian off-spinner Pragyan Ojha said that one among Shreyas Iyer, Kl Rahul, and Shikhar Dhawan should captain the side because of the experience. He added that if team management t thinks out of the box they can name someone young who can captain India in the coming years.
"When you talk about a new team, you need a guy who has experience. If Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul is available then one of these two guys can be the Indian captain or if Shikhar Dhawan is there. Out of these three guys, you can have one because your captain has to be experienced to handle things.
“But if you ask me, I can think out-of-the-box at times when you can give a new team and try to build a new captain. Someone who is young and can be your next captain in the years to come, this (SL tour) is a great opportunity,” Pragyan Ojha told Sports today.
Ojha said that captaining a second-string side is a responsibility that acts as a ladder to playing as a first-choice in the future. He added that arranging a tour to Sri Lanka is 'out of the box thinking and BCCI should do the same while selecting the captain for the series.
"This used to happen with the India A team, a lot of people who captained that team went on to play for the country. It's a great responsibility when you are thinking out-of-the-box, this is not a conventional thought.
"One team is playing Test cricket in England, the other one is playing limited-overs formats in Sri Lanka which is out-of-the-box thinking. You can also do out-of-the-box thinking about players who can be a leader in the future, I'm talking about people like Shreyas and Rahul,” he said.
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Ojha further remarked that Shikhar Dhawan can contribute as a player but when Team India needs someone who can be built for the future and give the team at least 7-8 years.
"Shikhar can contribute as a player but when you look at the leadership qualities, especially from this tour you need someone who can be built for the future. I feel India needs someone who can give the team at least 7-8 years of cricket and be the next captain in the years to come,” he concluded.
Team India-led by Virat Kohli will enter the bio-bubble on 25th May here in India to prepare for the upcoming World Test Championship final against New Zealand and Test series against England.
(Sports Today inputs)