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The BCCI is set to name Suryakumar Yadav as the new captain of India men’s T20I team. The decision is due since former skipper Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the shortest format following India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean last month.
No Hardik Pandya as India T20I captain
While Hardik Pandya, the current vice-captain, was considered a frontrunner for the leadership role due to his prior experience leading both India and IPL franchises (Gujarat Titans and Mumbai India), reports suggest that fitness concerns and workload management might play a decisive role in the new captain’s appointment. Hardik’s recent injury struggles and limited playing time in T20Is since 2022 seem to title the scales in Suryakumar’s favour.
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Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir to begin their journey with Sri Lanka tour
Suryakumar, known for his explosive batting, has already shown his leadership credentials by captaining Mumbai in domestic tournaments. He also impressed with his captaincy in the recent T20I series against Australia and South Africa, leading India to a dominant 4-1 victory and a hard-fought 1-1 draw respectively. This experience, coupled with his consistent form and guaranteed place in the playing XI, makes him a strong choice for the captaincy role.
The upcoming tour of Sri Lanka will not be just Suryakumar’s first assignment as full-time captain, but also mark the debut of Gautam Gambhir as India’s new head coach, replacing Rahul Dravid after the latter’s successful stint that culminated in the T20 World Cup win.
The BCCI will finalize the squad for the Sri Lanka tour, including three T20Is and three ODIs, during a selection committee meeting scheduled this week.
This new chapter under Suryakumar’s leadership and Gambhir’s guidance will be keenly watched by Indian cricket fans, as they aim to build upon the team’s recent success in the shortest format.
