India Seeks New T20 Captain After Rohit Sharma’s Retirement

India faces a tough decision following Rohit Sharma’s sudden retirement from T20Is just days after leading the team to World Cup victory. The question: who will be his successor?

Two strong contenders emerge: Hardik Pandya, the team’s vice-captain, and Suryakumar Yadav, a star batsman. India has a tight deadline to choose, with a three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka starting later this month. This series also marks the debut of new coach Gautam Gambhir, who will play a role in selecting the new captain.

Pandya might seem like the obvious choice due to his key role in the World Cup win. However, his fitness concerns raise doubts. This opens the door for Suryakumar, whose successful leadership during India’s recent T20 series strengthens his case.

The decision carries historical weight. After India’s 2022 T20 World Cup disappointment, selectors initially planned to hand the captaincy to Pandya. But his injuries forced a change of plans, leading to Rohit’s return for the 2024 World Cup. With Rohit gone again, India needs to pick a new leader for the upcoming series and beyond.

“It is a delicate matter. There is an argument on both sides of the debate and thus everyone is not on the same page. Hardik’s fitness is an issue but he played a big role in breaking India’s ICC jinx. As for Suryakumar, we have received feedback from the team that his captaincy style was well received by the dressing room,” said a BCCI source involved in decision-making.

Interestingly, even Suryakumar, earlier this year, had gone for hernia and ankle surgery and it was only during the March-May IPL he made a comeback for the Mumbai Indians. The decision makers within the board felt Pandya could be the choice to lead the Indian side as he was appointed as vice-captain of the Indian team during the World Cup.