Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are the front-runners for India’s T20I captaincy ahead of the Sri Lanka series. (Sportzpics)
Within days of the T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma retiring from the format, Indian cricket is faced with a dilemma. Should they elevate the team’s vice-captain Hardik Pandya to the hot seat or give the leadership reins to premier batsman Suryakumar Yadav? The call needs to be taken soon since India play 3 T20I games against Sri Lanka starting this month end, which is also the debut series for new coach and former India opener Gautam Gambhir. India will also play 3 ODIs after the T20I games.
After his key role in India’s title win against South Africa in Barbados last year, Pandya could have been an obvious choice, however the Baroda player’s suspect fitness record has thrown up the name of Suryakumar. Gambhir’s vote too will be important as the BCCI officials and selectors decide on Rohit’s replacement.
After India’s 2022 T20 World Cup miss under Rohit, the national selectors had made their mind to name Pandya the skipper in the shorter format but the all-rounder’s frequent breakdowns forced them to change their mind. So when the former India pacer Ajit Agarkar led selection committee took over they backed Rohit to return as captain for the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, after India’s ODI World Cup campaign, with Pandya still recovering and Rohit rested, Suryakumar successfully led the national T20 team.
“It is a delicate matter. There is an argument on both sides of the debate and thus everyone is not on the same page. Hardik’s fitness is an issue but he played a big role in breaking India’s ICC jinx. 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 decision-making.
Interestingly, even Suryakumar, earlier this year, had gone for hernia and ankle surgery and it was only during the March-May IPL he made a comeback for the Mumbai Indians. The decision makers within the board felt Pandya could be the choice to lead the Indian side as he was appointed as vice-captain of the Indian team during the World Cup.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt that Pandya has informed the BCCI that he won’t be part of the ODI squad for the Lanka tour, citing personal reasons. The Indian team will play three ODIs with Lanka from August 2 to 7. Those in the know also inform that Gambhir has urged all senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah to play three ODIs against Sri Lanka as the Indian team will be getting one more long break thereafter. The players are yet to revert with Rohit and Kohli taking a break and traveling abroad with their families.
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