IND vs AUS: Asian Games champion Ruturaj Gaikwad leads India

India’s T20I series against Australia will begin on November 23, four days after the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup ends.

New Delhi: Asian Games gold medalist Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to be named captain of the Indian team for the T20 series against Australia, with the squad expected to be announced on Wednesday. It also happens to be the same day when India will play New Zealand in the all-important semi-final of the 2023 ODI World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Australia will play five T20Is against India from November 23 to December 3.

With a majority of Indian stars in the World Cup on a break, Hardik Pandya was tipped to captain the Australia series. The India all-rounder, who was ruled out of the 2023 ODI World Cup midway due to a ligament tear, has reportedly been advised to rest for six to eight weeks, which will also rule him out of the Australia series.

In that case, Ruturaj remains the best possible option for the India captain. Veteran Shikhar Dhawan is another leadership candidate but the BCCI seems to have made the Indian opener unavailable in their plan.

Like the Asian Games, National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman is likely to travel with the Indian team as head coach as senior team head coach Rahul Dravid, along with other backroom staff, is also likely to get a break.

With most of the older players out, the squad will look similar to the squad that went to China for the Asian Games. It should be noted that Dravid’s contract as India’s head coach expires after the World Cup and he will be back for the South Africa tour if the former India captain agrees to a contract extension.