Surya pipped Pandya to be named India T20I captain. (PC: X.com)
Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed India’s new T20I captain. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have made themselves available for the ODI series in Sri Lanka. And Shreyas Iyer has been brought back to the national fold. The Indian squad selection for the upcoming limited-over series in Sri Lanka had three major highlights. This tour would mark Gautam Gambhir’s beginning as India coach. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for both formats.
Hardik Pandya was India’s vice-captain at the T20 World Cup. As Rohit announced his T20I retirement after the tournament, it was initially thought that Pandya would be chosen as his successor. But the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and Gambhir thought long-term, with an eye to the next T20 World Cup to be played in India and Sri Lanka in 2026. Pandya’s injury record ostensibly went against him. He is in the squad for the three T20Is in Sri Lanka, but not even as a vice-captain. Shubman Gill would be Surya’s deputy. Gill recently captained India to a 4-1 T20I series win in Zimbabwe. That he has been given the ODI vice-captaincy as well instead of KL Rahul suggests long-term planning.
It is learnt that ahead of the team selection, chief selector Agarkar and Gambhir spoke to Pandya and explained to him the thought process of appointing Surya as T20I skipper. Over the last two-and-a-half years, Pandya has played in 46 of the 79 T20Is India played. He also suffered an ankle injury during last year’s World Cup (50-over format), which kept him on the sidelines until this year’s IPL.
Surya, on the other hand, led India to a 4-1 victory in a home T20I series against Australia last November, followed by a 1-1 draw in South Africa. But long before that, Gambhir saw leadership potential in him, when he was Kolkata Knight Riders captain and Surya was a KKR player. The Mumbai batter is currently placed second in the ICC T20I batting rankings. Also, he is one of the most popular players in the Indian dressing room.
As for Rohit and Kohli, the two senior members of the team initially thought about skipping the ODI series in Sri Lanka. But, according to sources, Gambhir wanted them to be in the squad. The Sri Lanka series would be the new coach’s bedding-in opportunity with the captain.
Iyer back to the fold
This has Gambhir’s imprint. Iyer was dropped from India’s Test squad during the home series against England earlier this year. He wasn’t considered for the T20 World Cup either. In between, the 29-year-old lost his central contract, as he failed to turn up for a Ranji Trophy fixture. Gambhir was Iyer’s team mentor, as the latter led KKR to the IPL title this year. Iyer has been brought back to the Indian team, but the BCCI has sent out a clear message: “The BCCI will continue to monitor player availability and participation in the upcoming domestic cricket season, 2024-25.”
With Ravindra Jadeja now retired from T20Is, Washington Sundar took his place as a replacement in the T20I and ODI squads. Jadeja was kept out of the ODI side as well, while Pandya asked for a break from the 50-over leg of the series. After returning to the T20I set-up, Rishabh Pant has now come back to ODIs as well.
Riyan Parag made the cut for the T20Is and ODIs, and seamer Harshit Rana was included in the ODI squad. Abhishek Sharma’s exclusion from the T20I squad, though, defied logic. The young opener was fresh from a blazing century against Zimbabwe. Similarly, Sanju Samson, who scored a hundred against South Africa in his last ODI, was omitted from the 50-over squad.
India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs in Sri Lanka. The series commences in Pallekele on July 27.
