Indian cricket is in trouble just days after T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the game. Should they put the team’s vice-captain, Hardik Pandya, in charge, or the premier batter Suryakumar Yadav? The decision must be made quickly because India will play three T20Is against Sri Lanka beginning this month’s end, which will also be the first series for new coach and former India opener Gautam Gambhir.
Pandya may have been a clear pick after his vital part in India’s title victory over South Africa in Barbados last month, but the fast bowling allrounder’s questionable fitness Record has prompted Suryakumar to be considered. Gambhir’s vote would be vital, as BCCI executives and selectors have to choose Rohit’s replacement before Sri Lanka’s tour.
Following India’s failure in the 2022 T20 World Cup under Rohit, the national selectors decided to name Pandya as skipper in the shorter format, but the all-rounder’s frequent breakdowns led them to reconsider. So, when former India pacer Ajit Agarkar led the selection committee, they supported Rohit’s comeback as captain for the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Suryakumar successfully captained India’s national T20 team following their ODI World Cup campaign, while Pandya was still healing and Rohit was resting.
“It is a delicate matter. There is an argument on both sides of the debate, and thus everyone is not on the same page. Hardik’s fitness is an issue, but he played a big role in breaking India’s ICC jinx. As for Suryakumar, we have received feedback from the team that his captaincy style was well received by the dressing room,” stated a BCCI decision-making source.
It’s interesting to note that Suryakumar had ankle and hernia surgery earlier this year and only returned to play for the Mumbai Indians during the IPL. Since Pandya was named the Indian squad’s vice-captain for the World Cup, the board’s decision-makers believed he could be the best candidate to captain the team.
