India‘s star players, including captain Rohit Sharma and batting stalwart Virat Kohli, are expected to be rested for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in August. In their absence, either all-rounder Hardik Pandya or wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul will be the captain of the side. This decision comes after players requested an extended break from the BCCI, citing the demanding schedule over the last three months since the start of the IPL.

In the past six months, 37-year-old Rohit has not taken a single break. He has played continuously since the South Africa Test series in December-January, followed by the Afghanistan T20Is, England Test series, IPL, and the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.

“The ODI setup automatically includes both players, and the three 50-over games against England before the Champions Trophy will provide sufficient practice for them. Over the next few months, their focus will be on Test matches, as India is scheduled to play 10 Test matches between September and January,” a BCCI source revealed to PTI.

India will play two Test matches against Bangladesh, followed by a three-Test series against New Zealand. This will be followed by the highly anticipated five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which will take place in Australia.

It has been realized that the two seniors and the selectors would prefer to sensibly manage their workload.

“The team might not need to play a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka for a week because the Champions Trophy is slated for mid-February. While they are welcome to participate, the players may prefer to rest before the major tournament,” the source stated.

Pandya appears to be the most likely pick in Rohit’s absence, while KL Rahul, who captained the ODI team in South Africa, is also an option.