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Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the new captain of India’s T20I team for the forthcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, set to commence on July 27. He takes over from Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20I cricket following India’s memorable victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 last month.
On Thursday, July 18, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the squads for the upcoming three-match ODI series and three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. This series will also mark Gautam Gambhir’s debut as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team.
Suryakumar Yadav named India’s T20I captain for Sri Lanka series.
Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as India’s T20I captain for the Sri Lanka tour, edging out Hardik Pandya for the role. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma returns as India’s ODI captain for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain for both the ODI and T20I series. Reacting to the bold decision by the BCCI, Ashok Aswalkar, Yadav’s childhood coach, expressed immense pride and satisfaction upon hearing the news.
Aswalkar disclosed that he had foreseen this significant development for Yadav and was thrilled when the official announcement came through. The coach emphasized Yadav’s growth and the invaluable experience he garnered from playing alongside stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja during the T20 World Cup 2024.
Captaincy is a slightly different role: Ashok Aswalkar on Suryakumar Yadav’s appointment as T20I captain
He acknowledged that captaincy entails a distinct responsibility, yet he is confident that Suryakumar will thrive, given his experience sharing the dressing room with some of the finest captains of recent times. The stylish right-handed batsman is well-equipped to lead India in T20Is, having previously guided the team to significant victories in the T20I series against Australia and South Africa.
India triumphed in the T20I series against Australia with a commanding 4-1 margin and secured a drawn series against South Africa, underscoring Suryakumar’s leadership credentials and reaffirming his position at the helm.
Ashok Aswalkar was quoted as saying in Times of India: “I had messaged him in the afternoon saying that you would get a big message today, and in the evening when we heard the news, I felt very proud…I feel very happy. Captaincy is a slightly different role. He played in the World Cup 2024 with great players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. By playing with such great cricketers, we get to learn a lot.”
Suryakumar Yadav gains trust of Indian players.
Meanwhile, as per a recent report from The Indian Express, the BCCI received feedback indicating that Indian players placed greater trust in Suryakumar Yadav over Hardik Pandya and felt more at ease under his leadership, leading to his appointment as T20I captain.
The selection committee’s two-day meeting was marked by intense discussions and diverse viewpoints regarding team composition and captaincy choices. Throughout this deliberation, the emphasis was on selecting players aligned with the management’s long-term strategies.
The report underscored Yadav’s adept player management skills, which significantly influenced the BCCI’s decision. Notably, India’s T20I series against Sri Lanka is slated to commence on July 27 at Pallekele, while the three-match ODI series will begin on August 2 in Colombo.
