India’s Sri Lanka Tour: Gautam Gambhir’s First Assignment as Head Coach

Colombo, Sri Lanka – India’s cricket team is set to tour Sri Lanka starting July 26, beginning with a three-match T20I series. This will be followed by a three-match ODI series starting on August 1. The T20I matches will be held at the Pallekele International Stadium, while the ODI matches will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium.

The tour marks the beginning of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid. Sanath Jayasuriya will serve as the interim head coach for Sri Lanka. India’s last tour of Sri Lanka was in July 2021, where they won the ODI series 2-1 but lost the T20I series by the same margin.

India’s current T20I series against Zimbabwe, led by Shubman Gill and coached by VVS Laxman, is ongoing, with India leading 2-1. The fourth match is scheduled for Saturday in Harare.

Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20Is after winning the ICC T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya is expected to lead the T20 team, while KL Rahul will captain the ODI team. Pandya had an impressive T20 World Cup, scoring 144 runs and taking 11 wickets. KL Rahul, despite his strong performance in the ODI World Cup, was not included in the T20 World Cup squad.

Sri Lanka had a disappointing T20 World Cup, failing to reach the Super Eights and finishing third in Group D with just three points.