Virat Kohli was today named as India captain for the first three One Day Internationals against Sri Lanka. Kohli has previously led India in 12 ODIs, in the Caribbean, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
The selectors, on Tuesday, decided to rest regular skipper MS Dhoni. Wriddhiman Saha will take over as India wicketkeeper in Dhoni’s absence. Paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also rested while Varun Aaron has returned. BCCI invited Sri Lanka for a five-match ODI series after West Indies abruptly pulled out of the tour last week.
Offspinner R Ashwin, who was rested from West Indies ODIs, makes a return while young left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has been dropped without getting a game. The 25-year-old Kohli captained India for the first time in a ODI on July 2, 2013 in Kingston (Jamaica) against Sri Lanka after Dhoni opted out due to an injury.
India were handed a 161-run defeat by Sri Lanka in that game after centuries from Mahela Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga.
India Squad for first 3 ODIs :
Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Varun Aaron, Akshar Patel.
India A Team for practice match (October 30 at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai) Vs SL
Manoj Tiwary (captain), Unmukt Chand, Manan Vohra, Karun Nair, Rohit Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Sanju Samson, Pervez Rasool, Karn Sharma, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav.
Full Schedule
2 November – 1st ODI – Cuttack
6 November – 2nd ODI – Hyderabad
9 November – 3rd ODI – Ahmedabad
13 November – 4th ODI – Kolkata
16 November – 5th ODI – Ranchi
