Hardik Pandya's recent demotion as India's T20 captain has raised eyebrows, with the all-rounder seemingly losing his leadership role to Suryakumar Yadav. This move came as a surprise, especially considering Pandya's impressive performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, where India emerged victorious.
The selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, cited Pandya's frequent fitness issues as the primary reason for the decision. The all-rounder has struggled with injuries, most notably an ankle injury sustained during last year's ODI World Cup, which may have led to his exclusion from the ODI squad as well.
Pandya, who served as Rohit Sharma's deputy during the T20 World Cup, had a stellar tournament, scoring 144 runs at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 151.57. His bowling was equally impressive, taking 11 wickets in eight games at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.64.
Former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra, while acknowledging the selection committee's decision, expressed surprise at Pandya's removal. "It is a decision of the coach and selection committee," Nehra said. "It came as a big surprise, obviously. 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."
The selection of Suryakumar as captain has fueled speculation about his long-term prospects in the role. His relationship with head coach Rahul Dravid, dating back to their time together with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014, has led to suggestions of a potential partnership. During his time at KKR, Suryakumar benefited from Dravid's guidance, even serving as vice-captain under Gautam Gambhir.
Nehra, however, believes it's too early to label Suryakumar as a long-term captain. "I am not sure whether he is a long-term or short-term prospect," he said. "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."
With Rohit Sharma leading the ODI and Test teams, and Shubman Gill appointed as his deputy, India's leadership structure appears to be in transition. Nehra, however, sees this as a positive development. "After winning the World Cup, this is a good transition in the Indian team," he said. "You have a lot of replacements."
He further emphasized the familiarity between Dravid and Suryakumar, stating that "GG [Dravid] knows Surya's capabilities and strengths as a player and captain."
While the future of Suryakumar's captaincy remains uncertain, his appointment signals a shift in India's T20 leadership. The upcoming series against Sri Lanka will provide crucial insights into Suryakumar's captaincy style and his ability to lead the team to success.