The limited over series of Team India against Sri Lanka is set to commence on July 27. Both teams will lock horns in a T20I and an ODI series. Gautam Gambhir is set to take charge as the Indian head coach. As Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is, speculation was going over Suryakumar Yadav’s appointment as the T20I captain. Gambhir hinted that he prefers a captain who doesn’t have workload management issues, without explicitly mentioning Surya’s name.
Rohit’s Retirement and Captaincy Game:
Team India clinched their second T20 World Cup trophy after a 17-year wait, marking a significant and long-awaited triumph. However, the celebration was tempered by the unexpected retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja from the T20 format, though they will continue in Tests and ODIs. Following the World Cup, a youthful squad led by Shubman Gill ventured to Zimbabwe for a series.
Looking ahead to the Sri Lanka series, India faces the task of finding a successor to Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. Reports indicate Suryakumar Yadav is poised to take over as the new T20I captain, replacing Hardik Pandya. Suryakumar has leadership experience with Mumbai in domestic cricket and has previously captained Team India. His recent performances, guiding India to victories against Australia and a draw in South Africa, underscore his value in the T20I lineup.
Despite being Rohit’s deputy at the T20 World Cup and having significant captaincy experience, Hardik Pandya’s fitness concerns and workload management reportedly influenced his exclusion. He has led India in several ODIs and T20Is, as well as captaining IPL teams Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians. Reports suggest he has also informed the BCCI of his unavailability for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Gambhir’s Call on That:
Gambhir joined an informal discussion with BCCI officials and the selection committee on Tuesday to talk about future plans. During the call, both Gambhir and Agarkar indirectly recommended Suryakumar Yadav as a potential T20I captain. They stressed the importance of choosing a leader who doesn’t have significant workload management issues.
While Gambhir didn’t explicitly mention Suryakumar’s name, his preference for a captain who can handle the workload effectively was evident. This discussion highlighted the consideration of various factors in choosing Rohit Sharma’s successor.
A source revealed, “Although Gambhir did not directly pitch for Surya in the call, he made it amply clear that he would want to work with a captain whose workload does not become a stumbling block. Agarkar was clear with his views.”
The squad still needs to be announced. A lot of changes are set to be done. As per sources Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are aiming to come back in the team. The series is starting on 27th July. The ODI series will start from August 2.
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