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Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey recently explained the rationale behind selecting Suryakumar Yadav as captain of the T20I team, attributing it to his potential longevity in T20 cricket and his prowess in the format.
Under the stewardship of Rahul Dravid, Suryakumar Yadav assumed the role of India’s T20I captain, leading the team through two series immediately following the 2023 ODI World Cup. During this period, Yadav steered the national squad to a notable victory against Australia and secured a series draw in South Africa.
Upon Hardik Pandya’s return to the team for the T20 World Cup 2024, he was appointed vice-captain. Following veteran opener Rohit Sharma’s announcement of his retirement from T20Is, ending India’s 11-year ICC trophy drought, selectors opted to name Suryakumar Yadav as captain, despite Hardik Pandya’s presence in the T20 squad.
Paras Mhambrey emphasized the team’s preference for a captain who can consistently participate in all series for the Indian cricket team. He highlighted Suryakumar Yadav’s standing as one of the premier batters in the current T20 landscape.
“First and foremost, when you pick a captain, you expect the captain to play all the games in that format. We, the coaches and selectors, have always felt that here’s a guy who’s gonna have a long future in the T20 format. He has mastered that skill. One of the best in this format. He and Klaasen are maybe one or two in T20Is now based on their current form. Just the pure impact he has on winning games for India is phenomenal,” Mhanbrey told Hindustan Times.
Suryakumar Yadav was chosen ahead of Hardik Pandya for the T20I captaincy due to the team management’s preference for a captain who could avoid injuries and remain available for all matches. Hardik had been sidelined by an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup 2023, which kept him out of action for several months.
Despite Yadav’s lack of international and IPL captaincy experience and being 33 years old, he had previously led Mumbai in domestic cricket. Both past and present team management agreed that Suryakumar Yadav was the most suitable candidate to succeed Rohit Sharma in T20Is.
Mhambrey pointed out that Suryakumar Yadav has a strong rapport with the younger members of the Indian team, noting his friendly demeanor and approachability. The former Indian bowling coach emphasized that Yadav’s experience makes him well-positioned to mentor and guide the younger players in the squad.
“He’s been with the team. I’ve seen him interact with the young guys. On one hand, we had Rohit and Virat, guys who are stalwarts, and then we have Surya, who is experienced but probably even closer to the youngsters. He is very friendly with everyone. He has that respect from the younger lot. The youngsters need to interact with him, he’s good at it. So, has a good bond with everyone in the team. He has come up through the ranks, so he has a lot of experience and is a smart cricketer.”
Suryakumar Yadav’s official tenure as the T20I captain will commence with the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka. The inaugural T20I of the series is set for Saturday, July 27, and will take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
