(Source X)
Former Indian opening batter Kris Srikkanth has commended middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav for his leadership attributes as India prepares for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. However, Srikkanth expressed confusion regarding the decision to relieve all-rounder Hardik Pandya of the T20I captaincy.
Initially expected to assume the T20I captaincy following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Pandya found himself bypassed by the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, who threw their weight behind Suryakumar Yadav for the role. Despite being part of the T20I squad, Pandya was overlooked, with Shubman Gill appointed as vice-captain.
During a press conference on Monday, Ajit Agarkar explained that Yadav was chosen based on positive feedback received from within the team. He emphasized the importance of having a captain available for all matches, citing concerns over Pandya’s fitness issues in recent years as a factor in the decision-making process.
During a recent discussion on his official YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth praised Suryakumar Yadav, noting his potential as a strong captain due to his evident leadership qualities. Srikkanth also expressed his confusion over the rationale behind the decision to strip Hardik Pandya of the captaincy, finding the explanations provided less than clear.
“Feedback from the dressing room? I am not able to understand that. Yes, Suryakumar has the qualities to be captain. I agree to that. He could prove to be a very good captain. But the reasons for dropping Hardik Pandya as captain are beating around the bush in terms of the reasoning,” Srikkanth said.
Following the 2022 T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya took over the reins as captain for India in T20Is. Their journey saw a significant setback with a crushing 10-wicket defeat against England in the tournament’s semi-final. Pandya, hailing from Baroda, captained the Indian squad in a total of 16 T20I matches. Under his leadership, the team achieved victories in 10 matches, faced five losses, and encountered one tied game.
Subsequently, Suryakumar Yadav stepped into the role of captain during the T20I series against Australia, filling in for the injured Hardik Pandya. Yadav led the team in encounters against both Australia and South Africa, overseeing a total of seven matches. During his tenure, the team secured victories in five matches and suffered defeats in two. Notably, India emerged victorious in the series against Australia, while the series against South Africa concluded in a draw.
Kris Srikkanth expressed his disagreement with Ajit Agarkar’s justification regarding Hardik Pandya’s removal from captaincy based on fitness concerns. The former cricketer pointed out that Pandya had participated in the entire IPL season and the 2024 T20 World Cup as an all-rounder, indicating his fitness and ability to perform consistently in high-stakes tournaments.
“I think they have gone from the feedback of the dressing room. It must have probably been from the IPL. Fitness is something that I will not agree with. He played the entire IPL. He also bowled. Yes, he might not have done well (in the IPL). That’s another issue. Mumbai Indians didn’t qualify. At the World Cup, he was the vice-captain and he played well. So, fitness is something that I won’t agree with,” Srikkanth added.
Hardik Pandya delivered outstanding performances in the T20 World Cup. The right-handed batter accumulated 144 runs across six innings, boasting an impressive average of 48.00 and a striking strike rate of 151.57, which included a notable half-century. His prowess extended to the bowling department, where he claimed 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.64. His best bowling figures in the tournament were 3/20, highlighting his significant contributions with the ball as well.
