The wait is over, but the surprises keep coming! The BCCI has announced Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain for the upcoming Sri Lanka series, with Hardik Pandya surprisingly missing out on leadership roles.
Why is Hardik Pandya not India T20I captain?
Hardik Pandya‘s exclusion from captaincy and vice-captaincy roles in T20Is shocked everyone. While past injuries could be a factor, whispers suggest a potential clash with the BCCI’s new focus on player availability.
As reported by Cricbuzz, Hardik Pandya’s desire to skip the ODI leg of the Sri Lanka series, citing personal reasons, may have played a role in the captaincy decision. The BCCI, with Gautam Gambhir’s influence, reportedly emphasized the importance of player availability across formats.
Notably, Hardik Pandya is not part of ODI series vs Sri Lanka. Sources close to all-rounder suggest that he wanted a break from 50-over format due to personal reasons. Hardik on Thursday night also announced separation from his wife Natasa Stankovic.
Suryakumar Yadav at helm
This decision comes as a slight shock, as many expected Hardik Pandya to be the long-term T20I leader. While Pandya remains in the T20I squad, the captain’s armband goes to star Suryakumar Yadav. Adding another twist, Shubman Gill, a young batting prodigy, has been named vice-captain for both T20Is and ODIs.
Gautam Gambhir: Prioritizing Domestic Cricket
The BCCI’s press release emphasized player participation in domestic tournaments, hinting at a stricter policy under head coach Gautam Gambhir. This suggests international stars might soon be seen playing in domestic matches. Gambhir, known for his commitment to domestic cricket, is likely driving this shift.
Exciting New Chapter without Hardik Pandya
This shake-up injects excitement into the Sri Lanka series. With a new captain at the helm and a young prodigy as his deputy, fans will be eager to see this revamped team in action. Will Suryakumar lead effectively? Can Hardik Pandya reclaim a leadership role? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: Indian cricket is on the cusp of an intriguing new chapter.
India ODI and T20I squad for Sri Lanka series
T20I: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.
ODI : Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
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