Image credit - Hindustan Times
Much awaited schedule for the India vs Sri Lanka series was announced on Saturday. India will be playing three ODIs on the 13th, 16th, and 18th of July which will be followed by three T20I games, which will commence on July 21st, and the next two games of the series will be played on the 23rd and 25th of the same month.
Interesting thing is that none of the members who are touring England for the World Test Championship finals and for the five-match test series against the England side which is ahead of the WTC final will not be touring Sri Lanka for the scheduled ODI and T20I series.
Rahul Dravid, former Indian captain and also the current head of the National Cricket Academy will be touring Sri Lanka as coach of the Indian Cricket Team who be playing six limited over games during July.
Also, this is Dravid’s second stint with the national side after working with the boys as a batting consultant during the England tour in 2014.
Dravid, before taking up the responsibility of heading the NCA, ha had closely worked with the top youngsters who are now representing the Indian side during their U-19 days and their India ‘A’ stint. Also, he is seen to have played an integral role in building solid bench strength for the national team over the last couple of years — having taken charge of the U-19 and ‘A’ team in 2015
Speaking to ANI, a BCCI official in the know of developments had confirmed that the NCA head would be leading the team as the trio of Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun, and Vikram Rathour will be in England with the Test team.
“The Team India coaching staff will be in the UK and it is best that the young team is guided by Dravid as he has already worked with almost all of India ‘A’ boys. The comfort the youngsters share with him will be an added advantage,” the official said