As India begins its journey towards next year's Champions Trophy with a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli marks the start of a new phase under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir. This series will offer insights into the direction the team management intends to take leading up to the tournament. Here are some key issues they need to consider.
The Rahul vs Pant Debate
KL Rahul, the current wicketkeeper-batter, took on the role during India's previous 50-over series in South Africa earlier this year. Despite the presence of specialist wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, Rahul has been the preferred choice since the Asia Cup, continuing through the ODI World Cup 2023. Upon his return from a hamstring injury, Rahul made an immediate impact with a century in a crucial partnership with Virat Kohli against Pakistan. He continued to excel in the World Cup, amassing 452 runs, including two half-centuries and a century, and demonstrated strong wicketkeeping skills.
Given his performances, Rahul is likely to retain his spot unless advised otherwise due to his injury history. This situation leaves Rishabh Pant, who the team management supports for a full return across formats, waiting a bit longer for his ODI comeback after recovering from a car accident.
If Rahul remains the first choice, Shreyas Iyer might keep his place in the middle order. Iyer was in excellent form during the last World Cup and the subsequent South Africa series but lost favour with the team management for not prioritising domestic cricket. However, he recently led Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title in 2024. Balancing the lineup to include Iyer, Pant, and Rahul could mean compromising on the number of specialist bowlers, which is an unlikely move for India.
Identifying India's Batting All-rounder
India has long sought top-order batters who can contribute with the ball. With Hardik Pandya unavailable, the choices narrow down to Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube. Both players featured in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, where Parag bowled his full quota in two matches, while Dube didn't bowl in his only game.
Despite limited bowling opportunities in the IPL 2024 due to the Impact Player rule, Parag impressed in the T20Is with his control and versatility, switching between off-spin and leg-spin based on the match situation. His recent performances, including a strong showing in the Deodhar Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was East Zone's second-highest wicket-taker and a top run-scorer, suggest he could be a valuable asset in the ODI format.
On the other hand, Dube has only played one ODI, over five years ago. He returned to the national spotlight after a successful IPL 2024 season with Chennai Super Kings, primarily as a spin-hitter. However, his limited bowling across various formats could be a concern.
The team management may be tempted to give Parag an ODI debut during the upcoming series in Colombo, considering his recent form and versatility.