Suryakumar Yadav Named India’s T20I Captain for Sri Lanka Tour

Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as India’s new T20I captain, succeeding Hardik Pandya who served as vice-captain during India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign in the USA and West Indies. Yadav’s first assignment in his new role will be leading India in three T20Is against Sri Lanka scheduled for July 27, 28, and 30. This series also marks the debut as coach for Gautam Gambhir, signaling India’s preparations for the next T20 World Cup set to be held in India and Sri Lanka in 2026.

Shubman Gill, who recently captained India in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, has been named vice-captain for the Sri Lanka tour. The decision to appoint Yadav as captain came after Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is following India’s World Cup triumph. Despite Hardik Pandya’s extensive experience in leadership roles – having captained India in ODIs and T20Is, as well as leading teams in the IPL – concerns over fitness and workload management likely influenced the selection panel’s decision led by Ajit Agarkar.

Hardik Pandya’s leadership stint was interrupted by an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup last year, limiting his appearances to 46 out of India’s 79 T20Is since the beginning of 2022. In contrast, Yadav has garnered leadership experience with Mumbai’s state team and notably guided India to a 4-1 series win against Australia and a 1-1 draw in South Africa in recent T20I outings.

Both Yadav and Pandya will not feature in the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour, with the latter also opting for a break from 50-over internationals. This transition marks a strategic move by the BCCI to groom new leadership under Yadav’s guidance, aiming to consolidate India’s T20I prowess ahead of future global tournaments.