Up until yesterday, Hardik Pandya was the name that had been in the air to captain India in T20Is in the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. But now it seems like the wind has blown in a different direction as a star batter’s name has gotten more mileage in the discussion of who should lead India in Sri Lanka.
The new name that is loud in the air is Suryakumar Yadav. According to reports, SKY will take charge of the T20I side in Sri Lanka despite rumors of Pandya getting the hot seat. But why is Hardik Pandya not getting to lead the side even though he was the vice-captain of the T20I World Cup-winning team?
Hardik Pandya Unlikely to Lead India in Sri Lanka T20Is: Why?
There is no doubt that Hardik Pandya is arguably the most talented all-rounder India have. Indian selectors and the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, would not have any doubt about that. As per reports, it’s not Hardik’s form that led to him not getting the captain role, but his fitness. The player who pulled off an astonishing performance to give India their second T20 World Cup is also one of the most injury-prone players India have.
Hardik Pandya getting injured quickly comes with the load of responsibility he has. Training for both batting and bowling and handling both in the game is a bit too much for all-rounders. And all-rounders are always prone to injuries a bit quicker than a batter or a bowler. He had gotten injured in the midst of the 2023 ODI World Cup and was out until the IPL 2024. He came back as a captain of the Mumbai Indians, which didn’t go well for him. The worst season in the IPL, though, didn’t affect his inclusion in the T20 World Cup, as the selectors were confident in the player. And he proved it right as well by being spectacular in the tournament.
So Team India’s decision to give Hardik rest would be just to maintain his fitness for longevity and important tournaments.
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