Hardik Pandya Emerges as Top Contender for T20I Captaincy Amid Suryakumar's Form Struggles
2 months ago | 5 Views
India's all-rounder Hardik Pandya faced an unfortunate setback in losing the T20I captaincy, despite having led the national team multiple times between 2022 and 2024. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee appointed Suryakumar Yadav as the successor to Rohit Sharma in this format, following Sharma's retirement from T20Is after the World Cup victory in June of the previous year. However, a report from Dainik Jagran suggests that Hardik may be reinstated as captain due to Suryakumar's declining performance with the bat.
A few years ago, Suryakumar ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC T20I Player Rankings for batters. Nevertheless, since assuming leadership of the Indian team in this format, the Mumbai Indians player has struggled to maintain his form. Since the Sri Lanka tour last year, during which he took on the captaincy, he has accumulated only 258 runs in 14 innings, averaging a mere 18.42, with two half-centuries. In the recent home series against England, he managed a total of just 28 runs across five innings, including two instances of being dismissed for zero.
Given these performance concerns, the Dainik Jagran report indicates that Hardik is once again in the running for the captaincy, bolstered by his consistent displays in the format. The report further notes that several BCCI officials and head coach Gautam Gambhir believe that Hardik has been unjustly treated in the past.
"Despite Hardik serving as vice-captain during the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav was subsequently appointed as captain. Given Surya's lackluster performance, there is a possibility for Hardik to reclaim the captaincy in T20s. Some influential figures within the BCCI and Gambhir hold the view that Hardik has faced numerous injustices historically. He was overlooked for the captaincy based on fitness concerns, despite his consistently strong performances," the report stated.
Why was Hardik denied T20I captaincy?
Hardik Pandya was not appointed as the T20I captain due to concerns regarding his fitness, as explained by Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors for the BCCI, during the announcement of the captaincy.
Agarkar stated, "Hardik remains a crucial player for our team. However, fitness has been a significant issue for him, which complicates decisions for the coach and selectors. We require a player who is consistently available. Nonetheless, we believe Surya possesses the necessary attributes to lead the team. Additionally, we feel we can better manage Hardik's contributions, as demonstrated by his performance with both bat and ball during the World Cup. We maintain open communication with all players regarding any changes to their roles, and we have indeed discussed this matter with him."
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