India’s stand-in skipper, Hardik Pandya, has promised to provide his entire support to the squad’s youthful players ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, January 3. Many fresh and unproven players will have the opportunity to establish their worth throughout the series.
With the absence of players like as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul from the T20I squad against Sri Lanka, the selectors and team management have opted to field a youthful group with an eye on the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024.
“What we have witnessed and advised the guys is that simply get out there and express [yourself], which they will do. And it’s up to us how we support them,” Hardik Pandya remarked to the press before of the first T20I, according to ESPNcricinfo.
“What we’ve stated is that we’re going to support you completely. All of the players have my full support, and I will back them up until the end. These are the top cricketers in the nation, and that is why they are here. So I have to make them believe that, which is also true,” he continued.
“It’s vital to me how I can make them feel like they’re the greatest in their field. And if I can get that done and instil confidence in them, I don’t believe they’ll have any problems in international cricket. “I believe they will thrive and have tremendous futures ahead of them,” the famous all-rounder continued.
Rohit is still recovering from a thumb injury acquired during the Bangladesh trip last month, while Virat has also been sidelined.
Meanwhile, this will be India and Sri Lanka’s first T20I meeting since their epic Asia Cup clash in September of last year. The Lankans had defeated the Men in Blue by six wickets in their Super 4 match, thereby ending the Rohit Sharma-led side’s season.
