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[Saba Sports News] Team India is gearing up for their next assignment as Sri Lanka tours India for a white-ball series. According to recent reports, star batter KL Rahul is set to return to the squad and is expected to lead India in the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Regular skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will reportedly be rested for the series. This will be the first series under head coach Gautam Gambhir, with KL Rahul emerging as the frontrunner to captain the team.
KL Rahul, who missed the T20 World Cup, will feature in the ODI leg of the Sri Lankan tour and take on the leadership role. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping back from T20Is, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is expected to lead the side in the shortest format.
“KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the absence of Rohit Sharma as the board believes he performs well in the longer format,” said journalist Vipul Kashyap. Sources indicate that both Rohit and Kohli will focus on Test cricket for the time being, with three ODIs against England providing enough practice before the Champions Trophy.
The three-game ODI series against Sri Lanka is set for August 2024, with the final decision on the captaincy still pending. While KL Rahul is likely to lead, Hardik Pandya could also be considered, though recent reports suggest he may not feature in the series.