Team India star all-rounder Hardik Pandya shared a heart-warming moment with a fan at the Mumbai airport on July 22 (Monday) before heading off for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Despite the T20 World Cup 2024 victory, Pandya has encountered tough times in both his personal and professional life. The Gujarat-born player was stripped of his vice-captaincy in both the ODI and T20I formats and also announced divorce from Natasa Stankovic.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will play three T20Is against Sri Lanka in the island nation and then Rohit Sharma will lead the Men in Blues in three ODIs.
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In a video shared by IANS, Hardik is seen giving a warm hug to the fan before engaging in a brief conversation with him at the airport.
Watch the video here:
Hardik Pandya Faces India Captaincy Snub As Suryakumar Yadav Becomes New Captain In T20Is
Hardik Pandya was removed from his position as India's T20I vice-captain, with Suryakumar Yadav taking over as the T20I skipper and Shubman Gill being named the new vice-captain for both white-ball formats.
In a pre-tour press conference held on July 22, Indian Team selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar explained that Hardik lost favour for a leadership role due to his past fitness issues. Notably, Pandya missed most of the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an injury.
"Suryakumar Yadav was made the captain because he is one of the most deserving candidates. We have been getting the feedbacks from the dressing room. He has got great cricket brain, he is one of the best T20 batters in the world, and the one who is likely to play all the games," Agarkar said in the presser (via PTI).
“Hardik is a very important player. He has the skillsets, which are very difficult to find. Fitness has been a challenge. That was the thought behind it. We wanted the one who is available all the time. Surya has got the necessary quality that you need to succeed as a captain," he added.
India will also be marking a new chapter in their journey as the former India player Gautam Gambhir is set to coach the Indian cricket team in his first assignment after taking over from Rahul Dravid as coach after the T20 World Cup 2024, where India clinched the title.