(Source X)
Newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir is poised to enact significant changes to India’s T20I squad ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Reports indicate Gambhir’s preference against appointing all-rounder Hardik Pandya as the full-time T20I captain for Team India.
Under Rahul Dravid’s guidance, Team India clinched the T20 World Cup 2024 title, with Rohit Sharma leading the victorious campaign and Hardik Pandya serving as his deputy. Following the World Cup triumph in Barbados on June 29, Rohit announced his retirement from T20I cricket.
Initially considered the front-runner to succeed Rohit Sharma, recent reports suggest that Suryakumar Yadav is now the top contender to lead India in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, slated to start on July 27.
The selection committee and Gautam Gambhir are leaning towards Suryakumar Yadav for the captaincy.
According to reports, Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee are advocating for Suryakumar Yadav over Hardik Pandya as India’s permanent T20I captain. Discussions held on Tuesday emphasized the necessity for a stable leadership going forward.
The Times of India indicated that the BCCI is prioritizing continuity in captaincy amid concerns over Hardik Pandya’s availability for every series leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
“Hardik was the natural successor of Rohit Sharma since he has been the vice-captain. But the selection committee and Gambhir are leaning towards Surya. The argument is the uncertainty over Hardik’s availability in every series that India plays. They want a stable captain going forward with the T20 World Cup in 2026,” a BCCI source told the paper.
According to the report, Hardik Pandya’s prospects of retaining the T20I captaincy hinge on his ability to assure coach Gambhir and the selectors of his ongoing availability. The definitive call on the captaincy will be made during the selection meeting, contingent upon Hardik’s confirmed availability.
“The coach and selectors spoke to both players on Tuesday evening. The scenario had to be made clear. It will be up to Hardik to reassure the management about his availability. A final call will be taken in the selection meeting soon,” the source explained.
The accomplished all-rounder enjoyed a fruitful tenure with the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL, guiding them to the championship in 2022 and a runner-up position the following season. However, his leadership saw the Mumbai Indians (MI) finish at the bottom of the IPL 2024 standings. He has also captained India in 16 T20Is, achieving 10 victories and one tie, in addition to leading the team in three ODIs.
