After Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Suryakumar Yadav might become Team India’s next T20I captain, overtaking Hardik Pandya in the race. According to a report, the BCCI is considering Suryakumar Yadav for the captaincy role. Initially, Hardik Pandya was the frontrunner for this position. However, the dynamics seem to have shifted with Gautam Gambhir becoming the head coach. Media reports suggest that Hardik has fallen behind Suryakumar in this race.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Hardik Pandya was leading the race for the new captaincy. However, due to injury issues, the board is now looking at Suryakumar Yadav for this responsibility. Suryakumar has previously led Team India in the T20I series against Australia and South Africa.
Hardik Pandya has been leading the T20I team since the T20I World Cup 2022. He has captained India in 16 T20I matches and three ODI matches. However, Rohit Sharma returned to T20I cricket just before the 2024 T20I World Cup and led the team to end the long wait for an ICC trophy. Soon after the tournament, Rohit retired from T20I cricket.
It was initially expected that Hardik would be the next captain in this format. However, Hardik’s track record with injuries hasn’t been good. He suffered an ankle injury while bowling during the 2023 World Cup, resulting in a ligament injury that kept him away from cricket for a long time. Hardik has missed several matches due to injuries before this as well.
Positive Feedback for Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav is currently the number-one batter in this format and has been consistently performing well. According to Devendra Pandey from The Indian Express, a BCCI source mentioned that the team has given positive feedback regarding Suryakumar’s captaincy.
Earlier this year, Suryakumar underwent hernia surgery but made a strong comeback during the IPL and has been a regular member of Team India since then. Team India is set to tour Sri Lanka, where they will play three ODIs and three T20Is. This series will also be Gautam Gambhir’s first as head coach. Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the T20I team during this series.
