IND vs SL: India is on their tour to the Lankan Islands, and the T20Is are about to end with the last game being played at Pallekele on the 30th of July. After the shortest format of the game, Gambhir will lead them to his first-ever ODI series, which is scheduled to begin on the 2nd of August, as the team would next travel to Colombo.
Not many of the players who have been included in the T20 side have been given a chance in the longer format of white ball cricket. Surya, who is given the captaincy in the T20Is, has not been picked in the ODIs, while the likes of Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi would all be back home after the end of the T20I series.
The other players would join the likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, veteran Virat Kohli, and other greats like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and youngster Harshit Rana, who might have the chance to make his debut in the absence of ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
5 players who are likely to perform under Gambhir to find a spot in the Champions Trophy
Shreyas Iyer
The KKR skipper has been one of India’s best batters in the format for the Men in Blue, which he portrayed in the last Cricket World Cup played in 2023. Iyer was one of India’s most standout batters and also the third-highest run-getter behind Rohit and Virat.
Despite his stunning form over the last few years, Iyer was snubbed of a BCCI annual contract, which caused much of a buzz. He was also not handed a call in the T20 World Cup, but he is back under Gambhir, and he can make it to the CT 2025 only if he excels under his ex-KKR mentor.
Rishabh Pant
Pant is making a comeback into the ODI team post his accident. Rishabh Pant made a comeback to the Indian team after having a decent IPL season, and the Men in Blue saw immediate success with the T20 World Cup trophy.
Pant, who has now lost his spot to players like Iyer and Rahul in the ODI team, must perform to the best of his merits to come into the limelight to be included in the squad for the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan the coming year.
Shubman Gill
Gill was India’s top performer in ODIs when everyone seemed to be off touch; however, lately Gill has failed to perform in the format. His underperformance in the CWC 2023 saw him being snubbed of a chance at the USA T20 World Cup.
Selectors headed by Agarkar have proved that if any players underperform, however big a name they are, they do not stand a chance of being selected for the Men in Blue. As Jaiswal has once again not been provided an ODI spot, Gill would be the only likely choice with the skipper to open the innings, and he needs to play an innings of a lifetime to get his name among the team sheets.
However, Gill’s fitness has also been a concern, as he has always been seen facing troubles on the field when India plays under humid sub-continent conditions, especially if he goes deep in the innings. This adds to be a demerit to his selection chances.
Arshdeep Singh
Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah both can be the ideal players to be picked for the Champions Trophy if they both are fit and fine to play. Arshdeep was India’s lead bowler in the T20 World Cup, as he was also the tournament’s highest wicket-taker.
Considering him as the ideal 3rd choice bowler would not be wrong, as the lanky left-armer has been the best in the business. Singh would be placed ahead of Siraj if he can do equally well in the longer format of white ball cricket.
Washington Sundar
Dube reminds us much of Daryl Mitchell, as he is not great with the ball in hand. Though Pandya has been rested from ODIs, yet Dube is not the ideal choice to bring him down in the format.
Though Jadeja has been dropped in front of the series, his chances in the Champions Trophy remain firm. Sundar can be the better-off player to be considered ideal for replacing the veteran all-rounder, or also be placed ahead of Pandya if his fitness comes in the way of his Champions Trophy selection.
Washington Sundar is good at batting down the order, and he is efficient in bowling quick overs during the middle phase of the innings.