Suryakumar Yadav will take over as the captain for India’s T20I squad against Sri Lanka, stepping into Rohit Sharma’s previous role. Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, will be available for the ODI series, which will mark the beginning of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach of the Indian team.
The national selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, finalized the squad on Tuesday evening. While Yadav’s new role as captain signifies a shift in leadership, the decision also reflects a strategic move by Gambhir and Agarkar, who have opted for fresh leadership in the T20I format.
Yadav, who has previously led India in seven T20Is, will now lead the team in a series of three T20Is starting on July 27. The squad includes several new faces like Harshit Rana and Riyan Parag, who have been called up for the ODI matches, along with Shreyas Iyer making his return after a period of absence.
In contrast, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will rejoin the squad for the ODIs, with their experience expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming series. The team will have six ODIs, including three against Sri Lanka, leading up to the Champions Trophy next year.
The decision to not include Hardik Pandya as T20I captain surprised many, including Pandya himself and some BCCI officials. With Pandya’s fitness and form concerns, selectors opted for Yadav. Hardik will continue to play in domestic limited-overs tournaments and was also replaced as vice-captain by Shubman Gill.
Gambhir’s influence is evident in the selection of players like Rana, who shone under his mentorship in the IPL. The full schedule for the India-Sri Lanka series is as follows:
– First T20I: July 27, PICS (Pallekele) – 7 PM IST
– Second T20I: July 28, PICS (Pallekele) – 7 PM IST
– Third T20I: July 30, PICS (Pallekele) – 7 PM IST
– First ODI: August 2, RPICS (Colombo) – 2:30 PM IST
– Second ODI: August 4, RPICS (Colombo) – 2:30 PM IST
– Third ODI: August 7, RPICS (Colombo) – 2:30 PM IST