Gautam Gambhir offers T20I captaincy shock to Hardik Pandya, explains decision

Suryakumar Yadav is expected to be named captain of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka ahead of current vice-captain Hardik Pandya, according to a report. After India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, the trio of captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from the format of international cricket. Shubman Gill was the captain in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, but with Gautam Gambhir taking over as coach ahead of the Sri Lanka series, Suryakumar is being considered as the captaincy pick.

The report of ESPN Cricinfo stated that although Hardik was being considered as the choice to replace Rohit as long-term T20I captain, his concerns over fitness and workload management could result in Suryakumar getting the role. Hardik missed several matches last year due to injuries.

It is learned that Gambhir and Agarkar spoke to Pandya about this change of plan earlier this evening and explained to him that a long-term option was being finalized to ensure stability.

The T20 leadership role fell vacant after Rohit Sharma bid farewell to his international career in the shortest format following India’s World Cup triumph last month in the West Indies.

Pandya, one of the heroes of that victory, will take a break during the three-match ODI series against the island nation for “personal reasons”. The T20Is against Sri Lanka will take place from July 27-30 in Pallekele, followed by the ODIs from August 2-7 in Colombo.

The lineup for the series is expected to be announced in the coming days.

“Hardik Pandya was India’s T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is fully fit and available for the three-match T20I series and should lead the team, but there is a very strong feeling that SKY would be the leader potential not just for Sri Lanka series but even the 2026 World Cup,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

“Hardik’s break from ODIs is for very personal reasons. He does not have any fitness issues as is being suggested in the media,” the official said.

(With PTI inputs)