Indian cricket enthusiasts were taken aback on Thursday when the BCCI announced Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of the men's T20I team, bypassing Hardik Pandya. Pandya, who served as vice-captain during the recent T20 World Cup and was widely anticipated to step into the leadership role following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format, was unexpectedly overlooked.
Reports suggest that Pandya was not considered for the captaincy due to ongoing fitness issues and frequent injury breaks. The selectors opted for Suryakumar Yadav, citing his consistent performance and availability in both white-ball formats as key reasons for their choice.
Fans not happy with BCCI
This decision has sparked significant debate on social media, with many questioning why Pandya, a pivotal figure in India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in the West Indies, was sidelined.
Some even questioned the selectors for not picking young opener Abhishek Sharma in the T20I side despite his recent exploits in Zimbabwe.
In another surprising move, Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain for both the T20I and ODI squads, replacing Pandya. Rohit Sharma will retain his leadership role in the ODI format, having confirmed his availability for the upcoming series in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka tour marks the beginning of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India's head coach. Gambhir takes over from Rahul Dravid, who concluded his coaching stint with the memorable T20 World Cup victory last month.
