Right after BCCI announced the India squad for Sri Lanka 2023 white ball series the one thing that stuns everyone is the appointment of Suryakumar Yadav as the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team.
Suryakumar Yadav On His T20I Vice captain Role in SL Series
Sri Lankan cricket team is scheduled to tour India in January 2023 to play 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs. No Test match was scheduled to play during the Sri Lanka Tour Of India 2023.
The Sri Lanka Tour Of India 2023 will begin with a T20I match on January 3 in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul did not find a place in the squad for the series.
Indian selectors made some major changes in the national white-ball set-up by giving the T20I captaincy reins to Hardik Pandya and appointing Suryakumar as his deputy for the series against Sri Lanka, beginning in Mumbai on January 3 next year.
“It (vice-captaincy) was not expected. I can only say it’s kind of a reward to me for the way I (have) played this year. It feels good and I’m really looking forward to it,” Surya told reporters after day two of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra here.
Surya’s first reaction after his father forwarded him the team list was of utter disbelief. “I came to know from my dad who is always active on social media. He forwarded me the list and also sent me a short message — ‘not to take any pressure and enjoy your batting’.
“For a moment, I closed my eyes and asked myself, ‘is this a dream?’ It’s a great feeling,” he added.
On whether the added responsibility will put him under pressure, Surya said, “I always had responsibility and pressure. I always enjoy my game and (do) not carry any extra baggage.
“It’s simple. I keep (leave) all my thinking at the team hotel and the nets. Whenever I’m batting, I just go out there to enjoy my game.”
India T20I squad
Hardik Pandya (C), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
India ODI squad
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
