TOI Sports Desk
This change in leadership comes after cricket legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20Is. The decision was influenced by fitness concerns about the initially expected captain, Hardik Pandya.
Gambhir’s tenure as head coach begins with a white-ball series against Sri Lanka, starting with a three-match T20I series from July 27.Initially, Hardik Pandya, who served as vice-captain to Rohit Sharma during India’s T20 World Cup triumph, was seen as the likely choice for captaincy. However, doubts over Pandya’s fitness led the team management to opt for Suryakumar, widely regarded as the best T20 batter in the lineup.
Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey revealed that the idea of promoting Suryakumar to captaincy was first considered during outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure. The new management, led by Gambhir, decided to implement this vision when the opportunity presented itself.
“First and foremost, when you pick a captain, you expect the captain to play all the games in that format. We, the coaches and selectors, have always felt that here’s a guy who’s gonna have a long future in the T20 format. He has mastered that skill. One of the best in this format. He and Klaasen are maybe one or two in T20Is now based on their current form. Just the pure impact he has on winning games for India is phenomenal,” Mhambrey told Hindustan Times.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stressed the importance of inputs from within the dressing room in making this decision. Mhambrey also pointed to Suryakumar’s positive relationship with team members, particularly the younger players.
“He’s been with the team. I’ve seen him interact with the young guys. On one hand, we had Rohit and Virat, guys who are stalwarts, and then we have Surya, who is experienced but probably even closer to the youngsters. He is very friendly with everyone. He has that respect from the younger lot. The youngsters need to interact with him, he’s good at it. So, he has a good bond with everyone in the team. He has come up through the ranks, so he has a lot of experience and is a smart cricketer,” Mhambrey said.
At 33, Suryakumar Yadav still has several years ahead in his cricketing career, potentially leading India in the next two T20 World Cups.
“He has a lot of cricket left in him. He has a good four-five years of cricket left in him. With all this, I think he is a great choice,” Mhambrey added.
This decision marks a pivotal moment in India’s T20 cricket as it transitions to new leadership under a new coach and a captain who has shown remarkable talent and rapport within the team.