Suryakumar Yadav has been announced as India’s new T20I captain for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which begins on July 27. He replaced Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20I cricket after India’s historic triumph at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup last month.
On Thursday, July 18, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squads for the upcoming three-match ODI series and three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. This series will mark Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
Suryakumar Yadav named India captain for Sri Lanka T20I series
Indian selectors have named Suryakumar as T20I captain for the tour of Sri Lanka, overshadowing Hardik Pandya On the other hand, Rohit returned as India’s ODI captain for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Shubman Gill will be the vice-captain for the ODI and T20I series. Reacting to the BCCI’s bold decision, the Indian middle-order batsman’s childhood coach Ashok Aswalkar expressed great pride and satisfaction on hearing the news.
Aswalkar revealed that he had anticipated this big news for Yadav and was delighted when the official announcement was made. The coach further highlighted Yadav’s growth and the valuable experience he gained from playing alongside cricket legends like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja during the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Captaincy is a slightly different role: Ashok Aswalkar on Suryakumar Yadav’s appointment as T20I captain
He admitted that captaincy is a slightly different role but feels Suryakumar will excel having shared the dressing room with some of the great captains of this era. Well, the elegant right-handed batsman is well-prepared to lead the Men in Blue in T20Is, having previously led the team in T20I series against Australia and South Africa with notable success.
India had won the T20I series by a 4-1 margin against Australia and then drew the series against South Africa, which showed Suryakumar’s ability and helped him regain this position.
Ashok Aswalkar told the Times of India: “I messaged him in the afternoon that he would get a big message today and in the evening when we heard the news, I felt very proud… I feel very happy. Captaincy is a slightly different role. He played in the 2024 World Cup with great players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. Playing with such good cricketers, we learn a lot.”
Suryakumar Yadav wins the trust of Indian players
Meanwhile, according to a recent report by The Indian Express, the BCCI received feedback that Indian players trusted Suryakumar Yadav more than Hardik Pandya and felt more comfortable under his leadership, which is why he was handed the T20I captaincy.
The selection meeting, which lasted two days, was marked by intense debates and different opinions among the committee members on the selection of the team and the captaincy. Throughout this process, numerous calls were made to select players who understood the long-term plans of the board.
The report also highlighted Yadav’s impressive player management skills, which significantly influenced the BCCI’s decision. Notably, India’s T20I series against Sri Lanka will begin on July 27 at Pallekele, while the three-match ODI series will begin on August 2 at Colombo.
