Abhishek Sharma was not picked for India vs Sri Lanka T20I series as BCCI announced India’s 15-member squad today. The Punjab allrounder who featured in all of the five matches in the Zimbabwe tour had scored a 47-ball 100 in only his second T20I but lost out on a place in the SL series with Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammad Siraj returning for the ODIs.
Abhishek Sharma Omitted from T20Is
Sharma who got a four-ball duck in his debut innings, came back well smashing the Zimbabwe bowlers all around in the 2nd T20I opening the batting, compiling a hard-hitting century studded with seven fours and eight sixes, but the return of Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top-order from the 3rd T20I onwards meant, Sharma was slotted in at No.3 where he got scores of 10 and 14. He ended the series with 124 runs from four innings at an average of 31.00 and striking at 174.64.
Sharma forced his place in the Indian T20I setup after a stellar IPL 2024 season for Sunrisers Hyderabad in which he finished as the 10th-highest scorer with 484 runs in 16 innings, striking at a mind-blogging rate of 204.21.
With Jaiswal and Gill set to occupy the opening slots in the T20Is, there was a case to be made for Sharma to be added as a backup opener. He is a handy bowler as well. But the selectors strengthened the middle order by retaining Riyan Parag and Samson Samson, while Rishabh Pant returned after being rested for the Zimbabwe series.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Also Misses out
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who featured in four matches in Zimbabwe also missed out despite scoring 133 runs in three innings at an average of 66.50 and striking at 158.33. Gaikwad batted at No.3 and No.4 in the series.
India’s T20I Squad for Sri Lanka Tour:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.
India vs Sri Lanka Full Schedule
- 1st T20I – July 27, 2024 – 7 PM (IST) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
- 2nd T20I – July 28, 2024 – 7 PM (IST) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
- 3rd T20I – July 30, 2024 – 7 PM (IST) – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
- 1st ODI – August 2, 2024 – 2:30 PM (IST) – R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
- 2nd ODI – August 4, 2024 – 2:30 PM (IST) – R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
- 3rd ODI – August 4, 2024 – 2:30 PM (IST) – R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
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