Mumbai: Fitness was one of the major concerns why Suryakumar Yadav got preferred over Hardik Pandya as India’s T20I captain, revealed chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Monday. Pandya was the vice-captain during India’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning campaign and played a huge role in ending Men in Blue’s ICC trophy drought after 11 years.
Pandya was in line to lead India in the T20 World Cup last month. But Pandya’s injury in the middle of ODI World Cup last year forced the all-rounder to sit out of action for six months. “Suryakumar Yadav was made the captain, because he is one of the most deserving candidates. We have been getting the feedbacks from the dressing room. He has got great cricket brain, he is one of the best T20 batters in the world, and the one who is likely to play all the games,” Agarkar said during the press conference.
“Hardik is a very important player. He has the skillsets which are very difficult to find. Fitness has been a challenge. That was the thought behind it. We wanted the one who is available all the time. Surya has got the necessary quality that you need to succeed as a captain,” added the former India all-rounder.
The T20 series against Sri Lanka will start on July 27, followed by games on July 28 and 30. All the matches will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. After that, the ODIs will be held on August 2, 4 and 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 internationals after leading India to the World Cup triumph in the West Indies last month, will return as the skipper of the one-day international team.
