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Suryakumar Yadav is set to be appointed captain of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, surpassing incumbent vice-captain Hardik Pandya due to concerns over Pandya’s fitness and workload management, according to recent reports.
Following India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, the trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20 international cricket, creating a leadership vacuum. Shubman Gill captained the team in the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe, but with Gautam Gambhir stepping in as head coach for the Sri Lanka series, Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as the favored candidate for captaincy.
ESPN Cricinfo reports that although Hardik Pandya was initially considered to replace Rohit Sharma as the long-term T20I captain, his recurring injuries and the need for workload management have prompted selectors to lean towards Suryakumar Yadav. Sources indicate that both Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar communicated this plan to Pandya, explaining the importance of establishing a stable, long-term leadership.
Rohit Sharma’s retirement after India’s World Cup triumph in the West Indies left the T20 leadership position open. Hardik Pandya, a key player in that victory, will take a break during the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka for personal reasons. The T20I series against Sri Lanka will run from July 27 to 30 in Pallekele, with the ODIs following from August 2 to 7 in Colombo.
The squad for the Sri Lanka series is expected to be announced shortly. A senior BCCI source, speaking to PTI under anonymity, confirmed the captaincy considerations: “Hardik Pandya was India’s T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is fit and available for the T20I series and was expected to lead the side, but there is a strong sentiment that Suryakumar Yadav should be the long-term leader, not just for the Sri Lanka series but until the 2026 World Cup.”
The source also clarified that Hardik’s break from ODIs is due to personal reasons, dispelling rumors of fitness issues.
This leadership change marks a new chapter for Indian T20 cricket, with fans eagerly anticipating Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy debut against Sri Lanka.
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