Team India is all set to take on Sri Lanka in the first of the three-match ODI series at the Wankhede Stadium today, the 3rd of January. Hardik Pandya-led men in blue will also wear the new look kit as they have now Killer brand as the new official sponsor of the team kit.
However, an official voice is still awaited both from the sponsor and the Indian Cricket Board regarding the launch of the new kit in the first T20I against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the players of the Indian squad for this white-ball fixture against the Islanders, have posted pics in which the new sponsor logo was something that attracted the eyeballs of the fans.
Fantastic five 😎
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) January 2, 2023
All set for the T20I series 🇮🇳#TeamIndia | #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/pAWq28wkF7
Earlier, the Indian team’s kit was being sponsored by some of the renowned brands including Nike one of the major names in the itinerary. One of the major sporting brands was the sponsor of men in blue for a long period of 14 years before being taken over by MPL sports.
Although the look of the new kit didn’t go down well with a section of Indian cricket fans and they expressed their disappointment on Twitter. Subsequently, fans called it a ‘downfall’ for the richest cricket authority like the Indian Cricket Board.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Better quality jerseys are coming.
— Abhishek (@abhishekr2502) January 2, 2023
Someone get rid of Byju's too. https://t.co/krUCxxGBwK
From Nike to Killer una this downfall https://t.co/Jquf6hIllK
— Tarun 🏁 (@Bearded_Kop) January 2, 2023
nike to killer, zamane badal gaye
— . (@onlyRP17matters) January 2, 2023
gone are the days of good looking nike jerseys
— Pranav Prabhu (@itzpranavvv) January 2, 2023
RiChEsT cRiCkEt BoArD can't even get a proper KIT Sponsor ☺️💔
— Mr. Strange (@rishabhfan_) January 2, 2023
What a shame !!
— Zestey Animate (@ZesteyAnimate) January 2, 2023
Coming back to the game, the white-ball series against Sri Lanka will be the first international assignment of team India in the calendar year of 2023. Following the conclusion of this three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, team India will take on the same opponents in the three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series and ODI series respectively against New Zealand.
Here's a look at India’s squad for the three-match T20I assignment against Sri Lanka:
Hardik Pandya (C), Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.