New Delhi, July 24: The decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain and hand the white-ball vice-captaincy to Shubman Gill stems from the necessity of having a consistently available captain, according to chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Hardik Pandya’s fitness issues played a significant role in this decision.
“Surya was made the captain because he is one of the deserving candidates,” Agarkar stated at a press conference in Mumbai. “He’s been an integral part of the team over the last year, and feedback from the dressing room has been positive. He has a good cricket brain and is one of the best T20 batters in the world.”
Agarkar emphasized the importance of having a captain who is likely to play all matches. Hardik Pandya, who had been India’s vice-captain in shorter formats until the T20 World Cup 2024, has struggled with fitness, playing in only 46 of the 79 T20Is since 2022. An ankle injury during the ODI World Cup last year sidelined him until the start of IPL 2024.
Despite his impressive performance in the T20 World Cup, where he scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57 and took 11 wickets at an average of 17.36, managing his workload is crucial.
“We want Hardik to focus on his performance without the added burden of captaincy,” Agarkar explained. “His fitness has been a challenge, and it becomes difficult for the coach and selectors if he is not available. With more time before the next T20 World Cup, we can manage his workload better.”
The move also allows the team to groom Shubman Gill for future leadership. Gill, who led Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 and captained India on their recent tour of Zimbabwe, is seen as a three-format player with strong leadership potential.
“Shubman has shown significant leadership qualities,” Agarkar noted. “He has been performing consistently and has received positive feedback from the dressing room. We want him to learn from senior players like Surya and Rohit Sharma, who is still around.”
While Hardik’s fitness remains a concern, the selectors believe that Suryakumar Yadav has the qualities needed to succeed as a captain. “Surya’s availability and leadership skills make him a suitable candidate,” Agarkar said. “We hope he develops well in this role over time.”
In other selection news, Sanju Samson missed out on a spot for the Sri Lanka tour despite his century against South Africa in his last ODI. Rahul remains the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Rishabh Pant as the backup. Agarkar explained that Pant’s recovery from a long injury layoff necessitated careful management of his workload.
“Rishabh has been a key player for us,” Agarkar said. “We want to get him back to playing without overburdening him with additional responsibilities.”
Ravindra Jadeja was also not included in the ODI squad to allow opportunities for Axar Patel. Agarkar clarified that Jadeja was not dropped but rested to manage the upcoming Test season workload.
“Jadeja has been outstanding, especially in the World Cup,” Agarkar stated. “We want to keep him fresh for the significant Test season ahead.”
Agarkar also mentioned that India’s Test players might participate in the Duleep Trophy, scheduled from September 5 to 22 in Anantpur, as a preparation for the home series against Bangladesh starting mid-September. Additionally, efforts are being made to ensure fast bowler Mohammed Shami is fit for India’s home Tests following his ankle surgery.Overall, the decisions reflect a strategic approach to managing player fitness, grooming future leaders, and maintaining a balanced squad for upcoming challenges. (Agencies)
