Senior Team India players including captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to return to action after the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in the One-Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, starting August 2. However, senior India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was snubbed from the 15-man squad, putting questions on his availability.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who addressed the press conference ahead of India’s tour of Sri Lanka on Monday, cleared the air on Jadeja’s availability.

“I think we should have clarified this when we announced the squad. He hasn’t been dropped (but rested). There are a lot of Test series coming up, and he will be playing a lot of those,” Agarkar said.

One of the talking points from Team India’s squad selection for the limited-overs tour to Sri Lanka was premier India opener Shubman Gill’s appointment as vice-captain. He replaced Hardik Pandya in the T20s for the role and the main reason for the appointment was the Team India all-rounder’s lack of fitness.

“Fitness has been something that he’s struggled with. As selectors, it becomes difficult then. The thought behind it was that we want someone (as captain) who is likely to be available more,” the chief selector said.

“We also feel we can manage Hardik better, we’ve seen what he can do with the bat and ball in the World Cup. We speak to every player, about whether their role has changed. And yeah we’ve spoken to him.”

Team India’s tour of  Sri Lanka will get underway from July 27. It will consist of three T20s and as many ODIs.