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The T20 world champions, Team India will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, starting July 27 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. However, this time it will be Suryakumar Yadav, who will take charge as India’s T20I captain after Rohit Sharma announced retirement from the shortest format of the game.
But as he takes the field after being designated as India skipper, SKY dropped a big hint on Axar Patel’s participation in the opening T20I. After landing in the island nation, India got their first training on Tuesday, July 23. During the training session, which also saw Gautam Gambhir step into big shoes of Rahul Dravid, SKY dropped a big hint on Patel bowling in the powerplay overs.
In a video shared by the Star Sports Network ahead of their training session, a clip showed SKY and Mohammed Siraj walking down the stairs and were set to begin their warm-up. Just with the start, SKY looked back and saw Axar, to whom he advised to “take it easy. You will be seen bowling in the third-fourth over. (Araam se, araam se. Teesre-chauthe over mein to hi dikhne wala hai).
Watch Suryakumar Yadav’s hint on Axar Patel ahead of first T20I:
Suryakumar’s comments suggested that India will look to introduce the left-arm spinner in the three-four overs, hinting his inclusion in the side for the opening T20I. Moreover, this move of SKY comes, replicating Rohit Sharma’s strategy to utilise Axar in the middle overs in the T20 World Cup 2024.
