The potential appointment of Gautam Gambhir as India’s head coach may breathe new life into Shreyas Iyer’s international career. The partnership between Gambhir and Iyer, which saw great success in the IPL, could be the key to Iyer’s comeback in the Indian cricket team.
Shreyas Iyer’s Prospective Comeback
Gambhir, a strong contender for the head coach position, and Iyer, the successful skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), have previously forged a winning combination. Under Gambhir’s mentorship, Iyer led KKR to an IPL championship, showcasing his leadership and batting prowess. This successful partnership may now extend to the national team, providing Iyer with the opportunity to revive his international career.
Iyer, who has been out of favour with the BCCI due to his reluctance to play in the Ranji Trophy, could see a resurgence under Gambhir’s guidance. Despite being dropped from the central contracts, Iyer’s recent performances, including a crucial 90-run innings in the Ranji Trophy final, highlight his potential.
A BCCI source mentioned, “There is every possibility that Shreyas will travel for the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka. The last ODI that India played was in South Africa, and he scored a half-century (52). He had 500 plus runs (530) in World Cup and averages just around 50. Can you drop him?”
ODI and T20I Series Selections
The Indian team has a packed schedule ahead, with a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. While the ODI series offers a more realistic chance for Iyer’s return, his participation in the T20Is cannot be ruled out.
Currently, young talents who impressed in the IPL are training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for the T20I series against Zimbabwe. “Shreyas is currently not at NCA. Here mostly those players are there, who have performed in the IPL and will be in contention for Zimbabwe selection,” the BCCI source added.
Players like Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yash Dayal are at the camp, with some expected to make the Zimbabwe squad. Meanwhile, the Indian senior players, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, will focus on ODIs and Tests for the remainder of the season.
Focus on Upcoming Fixtures
The Indian cricket team has a busy schedule with nine World Test Championship (WTC) Tests from September 2024 to January 2025. These include home games against Bangladesh and New Zealand, away matches against Australia, and the marquee ODI Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
In T20Is, the team is likely to see new faces, with IPL stars like Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed expected to travel to Zimbabwe. If not rested, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are anticipated to serve as captain and vice-captain, respectively.
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