SL vs IND: Rohit, Kohli Rested for ODIs; Hardik or Rahul to Captain

For the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in August, India’s top batsman Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma are probably going to be rested, with Hardik Pandya or KL Rahul taking charge of the team.
A lengthy sabbatical from the BCCI has reportedly been requested by the top names in Indian cricket today, given the demanding three months that have passed since the IPL opener.

Nearly half a year has passed since Rohit, 37, had a vacation. Since the South Africa Test series in December and January, the Mumbaikar has participated in every series, including the Afghanistan T20Is, the England Test series, the Indian Premier League, and the just finished T20 World Cup.

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“The three 50-over matches against England prior to the Champions Trophy provide ample preparation for both, who are automatic selections in the ODI setup. They would both emphasize Tests over the coming months, with India playing ten of them between September and January, a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

India will play three Tests against New Zealand, two against Bangladesh, and the highly anticipated five Test Border Gavaskar Trophy match against Australia in Australia’s southern hemisphere.

It is recognized that the two seniors and the selectors would want to prudently manage their workload. There’s no need to travel to Sri Lanka for a week-long series of three one-day international matches; the Champions Trophy will take place in the middle of February. They are welcome to stay if they so like, but I assume they would prefer to relax,” the insider continued.

Pandya seems to be the most likely pick in Rohit’s absence, although KL Rahul, who managed the ODI team in South Africa, is also a possibility.