Key points:
- Suryakumar Yadav appointed India’s new T20 captain for the Sri Lanka series.
- Hardik Pandya overlooked the captaincy role despite his previous position as vice-captain.
- Rohit Sharma will lead India in the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.
- Shubman Gill named vice-captain for both T20 and ODI squads, with Yadav and Pandya rested from the ODI squad.
Suryakumar Yadav was appointed India’s T20 captain on Thursday, taking over from Hardik Pandya. His captaincy debut will be in the upcoming three-match series in Sri Lanka later this month.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who served as vice-captain under Rohit Sharma, was overlooked despite India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup, where they defeated South Africa in the final. The victory led to the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20 Internationals, leaving a leadership gap that Yadav now fills.
Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the Indian team in the 50-over format, starting with a three-match ODI series in Colombo next month. The veteran skipper remains a key figure in India’s cricketing landscape, guiding the team through the ODI leg of the tour.
Promising top-order batter Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain for both T20 and ODI squads. Gill, who led a second-string Indian team in a recent T20I series in Zimbabwe, steps into a significant leadership role alongside Yadav.
Both Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya have been excluded from the one-day squad for the Sri Lanka tour. While the BCCI rarely provides reasons for team selections, media reports suggest the decision aims to manage their workload, ensuring peak performance in crucial matches.
As Suryakumar Yadav prepares to lead India in the T20 series against Sri Lanka, the team undergoes significant leadership changes. With Rohit Sharma focusing on ODIs and Shubman Gill stepping up as vice-captain, India looks to balance experience and fresh talent in its cricketing strategy.