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Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra discussed the decision not to appoint Hardik Pandya as captain of the T20I team despite his role as vice-captain. Nehra suggested that Pandya’s limited participation across all formats might have influenced this decision.
Hardik Pandya, the vice-captain of the T20I team, was not chosen to lead the side in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Instead, Suryakumar Yadav was entrusted with the captaincy, a decision supported by both the team management and the BCCI. Pandya, who captains the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, had previously led the Indian team successfully during periods when senior players were rested, achieving notable series victories. His ascension to the captaincy seemed imminent, especially after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20Is.
Addressing queries about Pandya’s omission from the captaincy role, chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited concerns about Pandya’s injury history and the need for managing his workload. Agarkar also mentioned that feedback from within the dressing room played a pivotal role in opting for Suryakumar Yadav as captain instead.
When questioned about the decision, Ashish Nehra commented that the choice not to appoint Hardik Pandya as captain came down to the decision-makers, namely the captain and coach. Nehra expressed his surprise at Pandya being overlooked for leadership responsibilities, highlighting his stature as a crucial player in the team. Emphasizing that Rohit Sharma remains the team’s principal captain, Nehra shared his thoughts with the Times of India.
“It is a decision of the coach and selection committee. It came as a big surprise. It can be because he is not that fit, he doesn’t play many matches, he plays just one format – this can be one of the reasons. But Hardik Pandya is a very important player in the Indian setup when you talk about white-ball cricket and when he is fit,”
“I am not sure whether he is a long-term or short-term prospect. It all depends on his captaincy, form, and most importantly, his equation with the coach and the selection committee. He is a captain in T20Is. The main captain is Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill has been announced as his deputy. If you look at 20ls, India will play 5 or 6 T20ls this year. Surya has been part of the Indian side for a while.”
I am sure captain Surya will do well under coach GG – Ashish Nehra
According to Ashish Nehra, Gautam Gambhir’s faith in Suryakumar Yadav’s capabilities stems from their previous collaboration at KKR. Nehra expressed strong confidence in both the new head coach and T20I captain, emphasizing that Rohit Sharma remains the leader for ODIs and Tests, while Virat Kohli is also in the mix.
He noted that winning the World Cup marks a positive transition for the Indian team, showcasing a wealth of talent ready to step up. Nehra highlighted Yadav’s tenure at KKR under Gambhir, suggesting it’s not merely a case of a new coach arriving and appointing a new skipper.
“It’s because they know each other well. GG knows Surya’s capabilities and strengths as a player and captain. If we look at other countries, they have had three different captains or two different captains for a long time. I am sure captain Surya will do well under coach GG,” he concluded.
