It is highly likely that Hardik Pandya will now not be named the captain of the Indian T20 side for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, and the nod will be given to Suryakumar Yadav instead.
Hardik has been the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team in limited-overs formats for some time now. Most recently, he was the vice-captain as India played in and won the 2024 T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.
Not only was Pandya a team leader in the World Cup, but he also contributed highly with the bat and ball. One of the best performers in the competition, he was named as part of the Team of the Tournament, which included six Indian players.
Check Out: Hardik Pandya To Not Captain India In T20s Vs SL
After Rohit Sharma retired from T20 cricket following the thrilling World Cup final against South Africa, most expected that Hardik would be named the next T20 captain of the national team. This is not only because he is the vice-captain of the side, but also because he has a lot of experience when it comes to captaincy in T20 cricket.
Most famously, the 30-year-old led IPL side Gujarat Titans to a championship and a runner-up finish in two seasons of the league. In 2024, Pandya transferred to the Mumbai Indians and became their captain, only for the side to finish last in an otherwise down season for the franchise.
Hardik Pandya To Not Captain India In T20s Vs SL
But he was the forerunner for the India T20 captain job following the 2024 World Cup. But now, ESPNCricinfo has reported that it will be Suryakumar Yadav who will captain the Men in Blue in T20Is on the tour to Sri Lanka, which will commence on July 27 with a three-match T20 series.
The report states that Suryakumar is getting the nod as there are still fitness concerns with Hardik Pandya, with his workload management being a key reason for the decision.
This does not mean that Hardik Pandya will not become India’s permanent T20 captain following the Sri Lanka tour, which he will likely miss. Now that Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from T20Is, Hardik is one of, if not the most experienced, players in the format for India.
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