India’s captaincy saga for the T20I format has seen a fresh twist with Suryakumar Yadav being tipped to be India’s new T20I skipper for the long run instead of the all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
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According to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the specialist batter has emerged as the front-runner to be India’s permanent skipper in the shortest format.
The report has also suggested that both the Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir and the Chief Selector, Ajit Agarkar have informed Pandya regarding their move earlier in the evening and have said that it is a move that ensures long-term stability to the side.
“Hardik Pandya was India’s T2O vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T20I series and was supposed to lead the side but there is a very strong feeling that SKY would be the potential leader not only for the Sri Lanka series but till the 2026 World Cup,” a senior BCCI source told on conditions of anonymity.
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According to the source, Pandya has taken a break from the 50-over series due to personal reasons rather than any fitness issues.
“Hardik’s break from ODIs is for very personal reasons. He doesn’t have any fitness issue as is being suggested in the media,” the official added.
Gambhir and Suryakumar were part of the KKR dressing room under the former’s captaincy and had given the top-order batter the iconic nickname ‘SKY’. The T20I specialist batter is also considered to be among the most popular members in the dressing room as well.
For the upcoming ODI series, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are tipped to be the frontrunners to lead the 50-over side for the 3-match series against Sri Lanka at Colombo.
India will travel to Sri Lanka and begin their tour with a three-match T20I series in Pallekele followed by the 50-over series. This will serve as the mark of a new era under Gautam Gambhir who will begin his stint as Team India’s Head Coach.
(with PTI Inputs)
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