The recent decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as Bharat’s T20I captain over Hardik Pandya has stirred significant discussion among cricket fans. Pandya, who was previously the vice-captain during Bharat’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign, has been relegated from the captaincy role, while Yadav has been promoted.
Reports have surfaced suggesting that new Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir played a key role in the captaincy decision, but not directly. According to a BCCI official, “Although Gambhir did not directly recommend Suryakumar for the role, he made it clear that he preferred a captain whose workload would not pose a hindrance. Agarkar’s views were aligned with this perspective.”
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has voiced his support for Pandya, arguing that he deserved the captaincy. Kaif commented, “I believe Hardik Pandya ‘shayad captain banne chahiye the’ (should have been the captain for the Sri Lanka tour). Having led the Gujarat Titans to the final in their first year and with his experience as vice-captain in the T20 World Cup, Hardik has proven his leadership. Although Suryakumar is an excellent player, I feel they should have continued backing Hardik.”
Kaif further noted, “Gambhir’s experience as a captain and coach gives him deep insights into the game. I don’t think Hardik has done anything wrong to lose the captaincy. His success with the Gujarat Titans and his leadership in the IPL should have earned him the role. However, with new coaching strategies, it’s worth observing how things unfold.”
