Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20I cricket after the T20 World Cup, the BCCI is considering Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav as options for India’s next T20I captain. Hardik has previously led India in T20Is while SKY has been a crucial batsman at number four.
Both were part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad and had some notable performances. Sky finished with 199 runs in the tournament while Hardik finished with 144 runs and 11 wickets. The decision needs to be taken soon as India’s tour to Sri Lanka begins with a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series.
Meanwhile, considering his recent performances in the T20 World Cup, Pandya seems to be the favourite at the moment. However, the decision of new coach Gautam Gambhir will be key in the matter. He will take charge of the team from the Sri Lanka series onwards as India looks ahead to the Gambhir era as coach.
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Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are the options for India’s next T20I captain
The selection committee was keen on naming Hardik Pandya as the next captain of the T20I team after Rohit led India to the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, Hardik’s series of injury problems made the management re-select Rohit Sharma as the captain for the format ahead of the T20 World Cup and he turned out to win the title. However, now that Rohit has retired from T20Is, India needs to rope in a new captain from the younger generation of players.
“It is a sensitive issue. There is an argument on both sides of the debate and hence not everyone is on the same page. Hardik’s fitness is an issue but he played a major role in breaking India’s ICC curse. As for Suryakumar, we have received feedback from the team that his captaincy style was well received by the dressing room.” said a BCCI source involved in the decision-making.
Suryakumar Yadav also had injury issues. He underwent a sports hernia operation ahead of IPL 2024. He also struggled with an ankle injury. The decision-makers within the board felt that Pandya could be the option to lead the Indian team as he was appointed as the vice-captain of the Indian team during the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandy has reportedly already informed the BCCI that he will not be taking part in the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to personal reasons.
Meanwhile, reports further say that Gautam Gambhir, the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, has urged the team’s senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah to play in the ODI series against Sri Lanka as the players will have a long break after the series before India starts playing Test matches.
There were earlier reports that Rohit and Virat would skip the ODI series against Sri Lanka as India will play non-stop Test cricket from September. Jasprit Bumrah was also likely to be given a rest.
“Both are automatic options in the ODI setup and the three 50-overs games against England before the Champions Trophy are enough practice for them. Over the next few months, both will prioritise Tests and India will play 10 of them between September and January,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
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