India will play 1st ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday, Jan 10.
He missed two ODIs and two Tests in Bangladesh and the three-match T20I series at home against Sri Lanka. In the buildup for the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 50-over games are in the focus and Rohit Sharma’s return to the Indian team is a good sign.
He faced journalists in Guwahati where the 1st ODI against Sri Lanka will be played on January 10 and handled a variety of queries in the press conference.
After he missed the Sri Lanka T20Is with Hardik Pandya captaining the side, it led to the speculation that going forward Rohit might lead only in ODIs and Tests in what seemed to be a transitional phase for Indian cricket.
However, the ‘Hitman’ put to rest questions about his T20I future and said: "I have not decided to give up on the T20 format.”
The India captain said that Shubman Gill will be his opening partner for the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
"Unfortunately that we won't be able to play Ishan Kishan. We have to give Gill a fair run," he said in the press conference.
Rohit also revealed the reason why Bumrah was ruled out of the ODI series on the eve of the first ODI. "Jasprit Bumrah felt stiffness while bowling at nets in National Cricket Academy," he said.
India has a packed ODI calendar - 15 matches excluding the Asia Cup - in the 10-month window in the build-up to the World Cup in October-November and the return of the likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer will be a huge boost for the Indian team.
(NDTV inputs)