Home Articles India vs Sri Lanka: 3 IPL stars who might leave coach Dravid...
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Rohit Sharma-led Team India side ticked all the right boxes in their previous white-ball assignment against Kieron Pollard’s West Indies at home. With an aim to furnish another title-winning team for the 2022 World Cup, head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit are tasked to rebuild India’s world-class squad in the ongoing season. Clinical India picked up series wins over New Zealand and West Indies since Rohit ascended the captaincy throne after India’s forgetful show at the T20 World Cup in 2021.
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Team India’s next opponents at home, former world champions Sri Lanka will be eager to punch above their weight by ending the unbeaten run of the Men In Blue. In the absence of batting icon Virat Kohli and explosive batter Rishabh Pant, the Islanders are expected to fancy their chances in the upcoming three-match T20I series. Despite Kohli and Pant’s unavailability, coach Dravid is set to deal with selection headaches in the Sri Lanka T20Is. Having said that, let’s talk about the three Indian Premier League (IPL) stars who might create a selection dilemma for coach Dravid in the shortest format.
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1) Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)
After warming the bench for long, Shreyas Iyer was roped in for the 3rd T20I against the West Indies as Kohli was handed a 10-day break by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Iyer scored a quick-fire 25 off 16 balls before the newly appointed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper received his marching orders at the Eden Gardens. Iyer will be raring to go in the upcoming T20I series against the Islanders.
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2) Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings)
Ravindra Jadeja is set to make his return for Team India in the three-match series. Jadeja, who is an all-format player, suffered a right forearm injury during New Zealand’s tour of India. The star all-rounder has not played international cricket since the Kanpur Test match between India and the Black Caps. The emergence of all-rounders Venkatesh Iyer and Deepak Hooda is unlikely to become a roadblock for returning Jadeja in India’s next three international games against Sri Lanka.
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3) Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
India’s numero uno Jasprit Bumrah will spearhead the bowling attack of the hosts against the Dasun Shanaka-led side. Pacer Deepak Chahar has been ruled out of the Sri Lanka T20Is due to a hamstring injury. With Bumrah set to become a sure starter in all three matches, the BCCI is unlikely to name a replacement for injured Chahar ahead of the series opener.
It should be noted that the Dravid-led Team India side has Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel at their disposal. Even though Bumrah is expected to lead the pace attack of the hosts in the Test series, the speed merchant is unlikely to take a back seat against the Islanders in the shortest format.
