No Rohit, Virat, Bumrah for SL tour as BCCI wants them to rest before upcoming home season

The tour of Sri Lanka features three ODIs and as many T20Is, from July 27 to August 7. Sharma and Kohli have retired from T20Is after the recent World Cup, while Bumrah has said that he will continue playing the format for the country. It is learnt that the selection committee will meet next week to pick the team.

“Senior players can take some rest and get ready for the full cricket season ahead. Rohit, Virat and Bumrah have been offered rest and will join the team for the Test matches against Bangladesh in September,” a source in the BCCI told The Indian Express.

Post Bangladesh, the Indian team will host New Zealand at home from October 16-November 5 for three Tests. They will then fly to South Africa to play four T20I’s between November 8 and 15 before a five-match Test series in Australia starting on November 22.

BCCI to call applications for support staff

Meanwhile, the Indian board will soon invite applications for the team’s support staff as the tenures of batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach T Dilip ended after the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.

The board’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has already interviewed two candidates – Gautam Gambir and WV Raman – for the post of head coach and only an official announcement is awaited. Gambhir is expected to take up the role, and the delay in announcement is only because the board and the former left-handed opening batsman are in the final stages of salary negotiation.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has stated that the new coach will join the Indian team from the Sri Lanka series.

It is learnt that the board will give Gambhir a free hand to choose his support staff. It’s not clear whether the Indian team will have a batting coach going ahead, as Gambhir himself has been a successful opening batsman across formats. He was Kolkata Knight Riders mentor in their 2024 title-winning IPL season.