NEW DELHI: The BCCI is expected to give a much-needed break to captain
Rohit Sharma
and star batsman
Virat Kohli
for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, scheduled to take place in August.
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah too is likely to be given a break from the ODI series.
In their absence, the responsibility of leading the Indian side will likely fall on the shoulders of either
Hardik Pandya
or
KL Rahul
.
The decision to rest the two stalwarts comes in light of their hectic schedule over the past three months, starting with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
It is believed that both Rohit and Kohli have requested an extended break from the BCCI to recuperate and recharge before the upcoming international assignments.
For Rohit, this break will be his first in nearly six months. The Mumbaikar has been actively participating in every series since the South Africa Test series in December-January, followed by the Afghanistan T20Is, the England Test series, the IPL, and the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.
"Both are automatic choices in ODI set up and the three 50 over games against England before the Champions Trophy is good enough practice for them. For next few months, they both will prioritize Tests and India will play 10 of them between September to January," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
India have a packed schedule ahead, starting with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Following that, they will face New Zealand in three Tests before embarking on the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy, which consists of five Test matches against Australia in their backyard.
Considering the demanding nature of the upcoming fixtures, it is believed that both the selectors and the senior players are keen on managing their workload effectively.
"The Champions Trophy will happen in mid February and they don't need to go for a week-long 3 match ODIs in Sri Lanka. If they want, they are most welcome but I guess they would want rest," the source added.
With Rohit unavailable, Pandya appears to be the frontrunner for the captaincy role. However, KL Rahul, who recently captained the ODI team in South Africa, remains a strong contender and cannot be discounted from the selection process.
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