For the first time in Indian cricket history, two completely different teams would be playing two different formats almost at the same time as BCCI has decided to send a ‘white ball’ specialist team to Sri Lanka in July.
This series [5 T20Is and maybe three ODIs] would be taking place at the same time when the Indian Test squad, having played the World Test Championship, would be playing Intra-squad and practice matches to prepare for a five-match Test series against England that begins in August. The WTC Final ends on June 22 while India's Test series vs England begins on August 4.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, while confirming the news said, "We have planned a white ball series for the senior men’s team during the month of July where they will play T20 Internationals and ODIs in Sri Lanka.”
"Yes, it will be a team of white-ball specialists. It will be a different team," he added in a short byte to PTI.
Sources close to the cricket governing body in the country have also confirmed the same, saying that it will give selectors a better opportunity to see the match awareness of some of the players in the loop for the World T20 which is scheduled to take place later this year.
"The BCCI president is very keen that all our top players are match ready and since England doesn’t have a white ball leg the month of July can be utilized well," the BCCI source said.
For the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Chahar and Bhuvnaeshwar Kumar, it would be an opportunity to showcase their talent and at least put a foot in the door of India’s T20 World Cup squad.