After losing the first match of the series, India stormed back to beat Zimbabwe 4-1 in their first T20I series as world champions. In their second, to be played in Sri Lanka from July 27, new head coach Gautam Gambhir will take over the reins for the first time, marking the beginning of an exciting new phase in Indian cricket.

With several seniors having retired from the format and several other first-choice players set to be available, the squad announcement for the Sri Lanka tour is already highly anticipated. Here, we storm our brains and try to predict a 15-man India squad for the three T20Is.

Abhishek Mukherjee, Wisden India head of content

Hardik Pandya (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

In his first assignment as national coach, Gautam Gambhir is likely to have several stars of India’s World Cup-winning squad back. Abhishek’s swashbuckling hundred in Zimbabwe should put him as one of the forerunners for the opening slot. Since this was an ad-hoc series, expect India to try the odd experiment.

Shubman Gill may be rested ahead of the ODI series, where he is expected to play a major role, and the Test series against New Zealand and Bangladesh. Washington, Player of the Series in Zimbabwe, is likely to get an extended run as Ravindra Jadeja’s like-for-like replacement. If fit, Reddy will be in focus as the seam-bowling all-rounder who can step into the shoes of the injury-prone Pandya.

Naman Agarwal, Wisden India news editor

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh

Despite his slow-go in Zimbabwe, Shubman Gill might be given another consistent run of games to prove his mettle as India's first-choice T20I opener. Assuming an extended rest for Rishabh Pant, Abhishek Sharma can slot in at three, taking over Pant's role from the T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson can be the first-choice wicketkeeper with Dhruv Jurel for backup, with SKY, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel making up the batting till No.8.

Kuldeep Yadav might be rested again considering the role he'll have to play in the ODIs and upcoming home Test series, giving Ravi Bishnoi an extended run in the XI. Rinku Singh might find it difficult to start, as might Washington Sundar in the presence of Axar. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh will most probably return, with Khaleel Ahmed edging out Mukesh Kumar ever-so-slightly courtesy of being a left-armer.

Sarah Waris, Wisden India staff writer

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed

The big miss is Shubman Gill from the squad. The youngster did not impress with his batting or his leadership skills during the Zimbabwe tour and with several other openers in the fray, I have omitted Gill, whose best format remains 50-over cricket. I have not picked Rishabh Pant in my squad, opting to rest him following a gruelling few months. India also have a hectic Test schedule ahead, where Pant will be extremely important. I have Dhruv Jurel as the keeper in his place, with Samson still the No.1 gloveman.

I would really want Harshit Rana in the team. He impressed in the IPL with his variations and is also a handy batter down the order with a first-class hundred to his name. The only pacer I have retained from the Zimbabwe tour is left-handed Khaleel Ahmed, who joins T20 World Cup-winning stars Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, with Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested. Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to be India’s long-term spinners in the format, and have been selected in the squad with Hardik as skipper.

Atri Sanfui, Wisden India staff writer

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Suryakuamar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Avesh Khan, Rinku Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi

Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking hundred in the Zimbabwe series makes him undroppable. He will be a part of India’s top three, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Hardik Pandya is the frontrunner as India’s captain for the series. Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Pandya will likely constitute India’s middle order, with Rinku Singh waiting in the wings.

Pandya’s possible return means Shivam Dube will miss out. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar will be India’s two spin-bowling all-rounders. At the same time, Ravi Bishnoi will link up with them in India’s spin flotilla, considering the slower surfaces in Sri Lanka. Harshit Rana might get a look in for his impressive performances in IPL 2024, joining Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan in India’s pace battery.

Rahul Iyer, Wisden India staff writer

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya (c), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana

A few reports have suggested Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah might be rested for this series, to prepare for the Tests against Bangladesh, but apart from them, nine members of the World Cup squad are likely to be included against Sri Lanka.

Batting-wise, Abhishek Sharma's century (and bowling) in Zimbabwe should land him a spot in the squad. Sanju Samson will probably take the keeping gloves if Pant is indeed rested. Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh will most probably keep their places from Zimbabwe, though there is scope to leave Dube out to get a better look at Riyan Parag or Dhruv Jurel.

Washington Sundar's bowling performances in Zimbabwe will most likely be enough for him to earn another call-up here. Both Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi might be picked, but in case Kuldeep is also given an extended rest, another pacer could come in. Harshit Rana is a bit of a wildcard option. Gautam Gambhir may push for him as the third pacer but if this does not materialise, that spot could just as easily go to Mukesh Kumar or Avesh Khan.

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