The middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav is set to be appointed as India’s new T20I captain for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka while Hardik Pandya will be the vice-captain of the side.
Suryakumar Yadav Set to Lead India in T20I Leg of Sri Lanka Tour
After Rohit Sharma’s T20I retirement, Suryakumar Yadav will take over the captaincy of India’s T20I format. With Hardik Pandya expected to lead the side for the Sri Lanka tour, his fitness has tilted the scales against him.
Although Hardik Pandya was the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup and is a more experienced captain as he led India in 3 ODIs and 16 T20Is, it is revealed that fitness concerns and workload management have not favored him.
Hardik suffered an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup 2023 and was out of competitive cricket until the start of IPL 2024. Hardik has played 46 out of 79 T20Is India has played since 2022.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav has captained Mumbai in the domestic circuit and also led India to a 4-1 dominating victory against Australia in a T20I series last year. He was captaining the side when India leveled the series 1-1 in South Africa. He was one of the first choices of India Xl in the format.
He has played 68 T20I matches so far and amassed 2340 runs with a high score of 117. Suryakumar comes in handy in the middle orders with an average of 43.33.
This will be India’s first assignment under New head coach Gautam Gambhir who takes over from Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup 2024. Recently, the young team led by Shubman Gill led the side to a 4-1 victory against Zimbabwe last week which had three players from the side that won the World Cup.
The selectors will finalize the touring players for the three T20Is and three ODIs on Wednesday. The tour will begin with the T20I leg starting on July 27 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
