
Suryakumar Yadav's Surprising Rise to T20I Captaincy: A Shift from Hardik Pandya
24 days ago | 5 Views
A month prior to Suryakumar Yadav's 34th birthday, he was appointed as the captain of India's T20I team, a significant achievement for any cricketer. This milestone is particularly remarkable considering he made his international debut just three years earlier, in March 2021. By July 2024, he had taken on the captaincy role, having previously led the team in November 2023 when regular players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were given rest. It is uncommon in Indian cricket for a player to assume captaincy responsibilities at such an early stage in their career. However, Suryakumar Yadav distinguished himself as an exceptional talent, emerging as one of the premier T20I batters globally during this period.
Despite his accomplishments, he was positioned behind Hardik Pandya in the hierarchy, who captained India from the 2022 to 2024 T20 World Cup, while Rohit primarily focused on ODIs and Tests. Pandya also served as the official vice-captain during India's victorious World Cup campaign in 2024.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar expressed surprise at the decision to appoint Suryakumar as the next T20I captain instead of Pandya following the World Cup triumph. "Honestly, I was shocked that he was elevated to captain because, until that point, Hardik Pandya was the captain-designate," Bangar remarked in a recent episode of Deep Point on Star Sports.
However, the former all-rounder has since revised his opinion. "The way he managed that transition demonstrates his exceptional man-management skills. Although it is still early in his captaincy, he is well-suited for this young squad following the retirements of Jadeja, Virat Kohli, and Rohit. This is a significant advantage—he can lead this new generation, being one of them," he noted.
Bangar elaborated on how the 34-year-old batter's capabilities are augmented by his creativity and adaptability. "The strategy behind his approach is proactiveness. It requires considerable imagination, bravery, and the foresight to anticipate the trajectory of the ball before it is bowled—that is his signature trait. During the Asia Cup, we analyzed how bowlers attempt to adjust their deliveries."
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