Gambhir’s Expected Appointment as Head Coach
Gautam Gambhir’s anticipated appointment as India’s head coach could significantly impact IPL champion skipper Shreyas Iyer’s international career. The three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, scheduled for July-August, is seen as a crucial opportunity for Iyer to make a comeback.
Shreyas Iyer’s Comeback Potential
Shreyas Iyer, who has successfully led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, is likely to feature in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe starting July 5. However, his more realistic chance of a comeback lies in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Gambhir, a strong contender for the head coach position, and Iyer have a proven successful partnership from KKR’s victorious IPL campaign this year. As a talented right-hander from Mumbai, Iyer might finally see his fortunes change after several challenging months, especially with Gambhir as his mentor.
Central Contracts and Injury Setbacks
Iyer, along with Ishan Kishan, was dropped from BCCI’s central contracts following disagreements with the establishment, primarily due to his apparent reluctance to play in the Ranji Trophy. Iyer has consistently claimed that a recurring lower back issue kept him out of the game, although he did manage to play in the Ranji Trophy final, scoring 90-odd runs.
Current Training and Selection Prospects
Currently, many young hopefuls who performed well in the IPL are training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, preparing for the Zimbabwe T20I series. Although Iyer is not at the NCA, it is likely that he will travel for the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka. A BCCI source indicated that Shreyas is not currently at the NCA, but other promising players like Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Mayank Yadav are present and in contention for selection.
Senior Players’ Focus on Major Matches
Senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will now concentrate on ODIs and Tests for the rest of the season, with nine WTC Tests lined up between September 2024 and January 2025. This schedule includes home games against Bangladesh and New Zealand, away matches against Australia, and the marquee ODI Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Future Prospects for T20Is and New Players
While new players, including IPL stars, will be featured in T20Is, the likes of Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed are expected to travel to Zimbabwe. If Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are not rested, they are anticipated to be the designated captain and vice-captain for the tour, despite having played continuously since the start of the IPL.(live score cricket ipl)