India's newly-forged coach-captain combination of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav will look to make instant impact against a Sri Lankan team in disarray.
It has become difficult for Ashwin to be even considered in the present scenario.
The Indian badminton team received enthusiastic support from fellow athletes, including cricketers Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore and Tilak Varma.
An astute reader of the game both on and off the field, Ashwin might have gauged what was in store going forward and that perhaps made it easier for him to take a call.
India's batting is a major concern with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs ahead of the tour of Australia.
While India are on a high after a measured six-wicket win over a sprightly Bangladesh, Pakistan are evidently tense after the 60-run loss in the tournament-opener to New Zealand.
Suryakumar Yadav has been named the captain for this T20I series, bringing his leadership and experience to the relatively young squad. Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma will serve as the wicketkeepers, while key players such as Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar are included to strengthen the batting and bowling departments.
Although India are playing a strong brand of 50-overs' cricket of late, they have some selection riddles to solve before they face Bangladesh in their opening match of the Champions Trophy.
The series already in their pocket, India will look to address their batting woes against an England team gunning for revenge after feeling hard-done by a debatable concussion substitute when the two teams clash in the fifth and final T20 International in Mumbai on Sunday.
Avishka Fernando scored a superb 96 and Dunith Wellalage took five wickets as Sri Lanka thumped India by 110 runs in Colombo.
Former batter Manoj Tiwary said India head coach Gautam Gambhir is 'not the right choice' for the role and is better suited to mentoring IPL franchises.
Images from Day 1 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
'Vikram would be working with all the reserves and we had those slingers with us who did an exceptional job'
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
A spectacular seven-wicket haul by Mitchell Santner helped New Zealand dismiss India for 156 before the tourists reached 198-5 at stumps on day two of the second test in Pune on Friday to tighten their grip on the three-match series.
Since Suryakumar took over as captain last year, India have hardly put a wrong but his own form has dipped.
If one looks at selection pattern, Jurel was the second keeper behind Sanju Samson for this series and Jitesh was a late entrant because of the unavailability of the World Cup squad members.
Pace spearhead Harshit Rana received a well-deserved maiden call-up, following his impressive performances.
'I have been speaking to him on the phone. So he is very much in the line.'
The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh will get another opportunity to enhance their red-ball credentials when the final round of Duleep Trophy matches begin in Anantapur
Images from Day 2 of the fifth Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
India will look to extend lead against England
The ever-milling modern-day sport does not allow extended celebrations and India, in the immediate aftermath of their T20I series triumph, will have to hit game-mode and treat the fifth match against Australia in Bengaluru on Sunday as a workshop to fit two key pieces in their grooves ahead of an exacting assignment.
The barren run of skipper Rohit Sharma and the selection conundrum that Virat Kohli's possible return poses are the towering obstacles in India's quest for a series win against England in the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.
'Very happy with the team's win to go 2-1 up in the series and the catch that Bishi (Bishnoi) took was absolutely remarkable. It was truly delightful to watch.'
'India needs to score big because they will have to defend those totals without Bumrah.'
Sanju Samson's technical weaknesses against express pace along with Rinku Singh's dip in form and fitness issues will be a concern for India
Chelsea striker Mason Mount is an admirer of the Indian cricket team and Shubman and spinner Washington Sundar in particular.
India captain Shubman Gill praised his team's "remarkable" effort on a challenging two-paced wicket as they defeated Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20I
India skipper Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar were all ears as the great man offered insights on the game inside the pavilion named after him.
New Zealand can become only the second team to inflict a series whitewash on India in their backyard.
Arshdeep Singh felt that it was simply divine intervention and unhinged faith from his skipper Suryakumar Yadav which enabled him to defend 10 runs in the final over of a thrilling fifth T20 International, wherein India pipped Australia by just six runs.
Rohit Sharma explained the reason for leaving out Kuldeep Yadav from India's squad for the first two matches of the upcoming ODI series against Australia, saying the team management does not want to expose him before the ODI World Cup, starting October 5, and it is important to build bench strength.
India's premier pace bowler and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the fourth Test match against England.
KKR's most successful leader Gautam Gambhir is back in his second innings as a mentor. His partnership with head coach Chandrakant Pandit, a shrewd tactician in domestic circuit, will be the key to their revival.
India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was ruled out of the upcoming Duleep Trophy because of illness.
The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket.
Images from Day 4 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Monday.
England captain Jos Buttler is confident that the upcoming T20I series against India will not impact their preparation for the Champions Trophy.
Eden Gardens will host the first game of the five match T20I series between India and England on Wednesday.
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