Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will not play for India in the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka this month.

The Indian cricket board wants the captain of the T20 World Cup-winning team and the two senior players to rest more before returning for a full season in September when Bangladesh visits India for two Tests and three T20Is starting on September 19.

The tour of Sri Lanka includes three ODIs and three T20Is, from July 27 to August 7. Sharma and Kohli have retired from T20Is after the recent World Cup, while Bumrah will continue playing T20Is for India. The selection committee will meet next week to pick the team.

“Senior players can rest and get ready for the full cricket season ahead. Rohit, Virat, and Bumrah have been offered rest and will join the team for the Test matches against Bangladesh in September,” a source in the BCCI told The Indian Express.

After the Bangladesh series, the Indian team will play against New Zealand at home from October 16 to November 5 for three Tests. They will then go to South Africa for four T20Is between November 8 and 15 before a five-match Test series in Australia starting on November 22.

BCCI to call for support staff applications

The Indian cricket board will soon invite applications for the team’s support staff as the contracts of batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip ended after the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

The board’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) has already interviewed two candidates – Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman – for the head coach position. An official announcement is awaited. Gambhir is expected to take the role, and the delay is due to final salary negotiations.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has stated that the new coach will join the Indian team from the Sri Lanka series.