Why BCCI Chose Suryakumar Yadav Over Hardik Pandya As India T20I Captain — EXPLAINED

Suryakumar Yadav's man-management skill and Hardik Pandya's request for break from Sri Lanka ODIs were the potential reasons why BCCI chose Yadav over Pandya for T20I captaincy.

Indian Cricket Team (ICT), under the newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, will travel to Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the teams for both the series on July 18. Interestingly, India will be led by Suryakumar Yadav in the T20Is instead of Hardik Pandya, who seemed to be a more probable choice after Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is post India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win. Moreover, Hardik Pandya, who was Rohit’s deputy in the T20 World Cup, was also overlooked for the vice-captain's role in the T20I squad.

A media report claims that Hardik Pandya’s removal from T20I captaincy is linked to his fragile fitness history, whereas another report claims that Pandya did not have full trust of his teammates in the Indian cricket team and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) as well. 

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Suryakumar Yadav's Man-Managewent Skills Impress BCCI

According to a report in the Indian Express, along with Hardik Pandya's history of dealing with injuries, Suryakumar Yadav’s man-management skills was also one of the prime reasons for the BCCI choosing him as the T20I captain over Pandya. The reports also claimed that players' trust and comfort in working with Yadav also put his candidacy ahead of Pandya’s. 

The BCCI received feedback indicating that players trusted Yadav more than Pandya. The selection meeting, which was marked by heated debates and differences of opinion, saw players being contacted for them to understand the management's long-term plans. 

Yadav's man-management skills impressed BCCI selectors, as he successfully convinced Ishan Kishan to stay with the India camp during the South Africa tour last year and encouraged fringe players to make the most of their opportunities. Yadav's communication style, similar to Rohit Sharma's, also contributed to players feeling comfortable discussing matters with him openly, as per the report.

Pandya's Request For Break From Sri Lanka ODI's Possibly Lead To Captaincy Snub

A report by Cricbuzz states that it is likely that Hardik Pandya lost his captaincy in the T20Is because he had earlier requested a break from the ODI leg of the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Since, the BCCI along with coach Gautam Gambhir, want good players to play all three formats of the game, Pandya’s request for a break from ODIs went wrong for his captaincy aspirations.

The report also mentions that Pandya may have sought the break for personal reasons. Notably, Pandya took to social media on July 18 to announce divorce with Natasa Stankovic after four years of their marriage.

Earlier in the year, Pandya was made the MI captain, replacing Rohit Sharma ahead of the IPL 2024 season, but his performance, both as a player and captain contributed in Mumbai being the first side to be eliminated from IPL 2024, drawing immense criticism from cricket fans and experts alike.