Suryakumar Yadav has been chosen to lead India’s T20 team in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, a decision influenced by factors beyond just cricketing talent. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that fitness and feedback from the dressing room played a significant role in appointing Yadav as captain over Hardik Pandya.
Addressing the media alongside newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, Agarkar highlighted the importance of a consistent presence in the team, stating, “Fitness was a clear challenge and we wanted someone who was likely to be available more often.” He further added, “He is one of the best T20 batters and as captain, he is likely to play all the games. We think he is a deserving captain and we will see how he fits into the role.”
While Hardik Pandya’s all-round capabilities were acknowledged, concerns regarding his fitness and availability prompted the selection committee to look elsewhere. Agarkar said, “Hardik’s skill-sets are difficult to find and fitness is difficult to find. We have got a bit more time and we can look at a few things.”
Agarkar also addressed the absence of KL Rahul from the T20 squad, stating, “I wasn’t there when KL was superseded.” This implies that the decision to overlook Rahul was made before Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector.
The T20 series against Sri Lanka kicks off on July 27, with matches scheduled for July 28 and 30. All three games will be held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Suryakumar Yadav will lead a 15-member squad for the T20 series. Following the T20 fixtures, the ODI series will commence on August 2, with further matches on August 4 and 7. These games will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 internationals after leading India to the World Cup triumph last month, will return as the skipper for the one-day international team.
