'It will be a different team' - Sourav Ganguly hints India B to travel for Sri Lanka tour

India is set to travel to England in the first week of June for the World Test Championship and the five-match Test series. Team India will be up against New Zealand in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship from June 18 to June 22. The same will be followed by India locking horns against England in five Test matches from August 4.

Since there is over a month gap between the two events, it was speculated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can host the remaining matches of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in July. However, former Indian captain and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly revealed that the Men in Blue will be traveling to Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series followed by five T20 Internationals.

Meanwhile, it is learned that the players participating in the WTC final won’t be traveling to Sri Lanka as it won’t be logistically possible for them to travel to Sri Lanka and then again to England. Thus, a white-ball specialist team will be announced for the India tour of Sri Lanka.

“We have planned a white ball series for the senior men’s team during the month of July where they will play T20 Internationals and ODIs in Sri Lanka. Yes, it will be a team of white-ball specialists. It will be a different team,” Ganguly said as quoted by Sportstar.

Shikhar Dhawan might lead India during India tour of Sri Lanka

With most of the main players including the likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and others traveling to England, a lot of new faces can receive a maiden call to the Indian squad. Also, the BCCI wants all the key players to be prepared for the Test series against England as they can use the one-month break to get accustomed to the England pitches.

“The BCCI president is very keen that all our top players are match ready and since England doesn’t have a white ball leg the month of July can be utilized well,” the source told PTI.

Meanwhile, it is speculated that India’s veteran opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan can lead a relatively young and inexperienced squad during the Sri Lanka tour while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson can be preferred as first-choice wicketkeepers in the absence of Rishabh Pant.