Team India feedback, injury issues: Why selectors picked Suryakumar as T20 captain and not Pandya

Hardik Pandya was seen as Rohit Sharma’s successor and the future India T20I captain. His final over heroics in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa only added to his credibility, but surprisingly enough, Suryakumar Yadav has been named India's T20I captain after the retirement of Rohit from the format. Hardik is part of the squad for the Sri Lanka tour, but he’s not even the vice-captain.

Hardik was vice-captain during the victorious T20 World Cup campaign, but Shubman Gill has now been given this responsibility. Gill is also the vice-captain in ODIs which means BCCI and Team India management are looking at the young batter as a possible future captain and are trying to groom him for the role.

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But what went against Pandya, who is also not a part of the ODIs?

There are multiple reports about why Pandya was not picked as India’s T20I captain or why he is going to miss the ODIs. Some state that Pandya will miss the ODIs due to personal reasons. On Thursday, he announced his separation from his wife Natasa Stankovic .

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Some reports all state that Pandya has not been picked due to his fitness concerns which can prohibit him from bowling 10 overs in a match.

In T20s you don’t have to bowl to 10 overs yet Pandya was ignored and SKY was made the captain.

A number of reports have suggested that it was new head coach Gautam Gambhir’s idea as he wanted a captain who did not face any injury issues and could dedicate himself completely to the Men in Blue. As per news agency PTI, Gambhir’s decision had the full backing of the BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.

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Suryakumar was made the captain with the 2026 T20 World Cup in mind, while both Agarkar and Gambhir spoke to Pandya about the decision.

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Pandya has played only 46 out of the 79 T20I games from Jan 1, 2022. In the same period, Suryakumar was forced to miss only a few matches due to sports hernia surgery.

Another report in Indian Express states that there were heated discussions while deciding the captaincy and Suryakumar’s man-management skills worked in his favour.

The BCCI had asked for feedback on both the players and it was informed that youngsters ’trusted Yadav more than Pandya’ and were more comfortable working under him.

India’s tour of Sri Lanka will start with the first T20I on 27 July at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The second and third T20Is will be played on 28 and 30 July respectively.

The three ODIs will be played on 2, 4, and 7 August at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.