Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are on good terms, dispelling any doubts after recent developments saw Surya appointed as India’s new T20I Captain, overshadowing Hardik, the vice-captain of India’s T20 World Cup-winning team. With speculation running high, Hardik made it clear there was no animosity.

In their first encounter following the selectors’ decision to outline a new roadmap for India’s T20I team post-Rohit and Kohli, with Suryakumar at the helm, Hardik and the newly appointed T20I captain displayed camaraderie. A video shared by BCCI on Monday night showed Hardik warmly embracing Suryakumar at Mumbai airport before they headed to Colombo. The T20 squad members gathered at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday afternoon for their departure to a three-match series starting on July 27. Both players are also teammates in the IPL, representing the Mumbai Indians.

Hardik was initially seen as the favorite to lead the T20I team after Rohit Sharma retired from the format post-World Cup victory. He had been India’s de facto T20I captain for nearly a year between December 2022 and October 2023. However, an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup group stages changed plans. New coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar sought a captain who could consistently participate in T20I matches. Given Hardik’s injury history, they doubted his suitability.

Agarkar explained the decision to make Suryakumar captain, highlighting his deserving candidacy due to his excellent cricketing mind and status as one of the world’s best T20 batters. Agarkar emphasized the need for a captain with a reliable fitness record, which influenced their decision. However, he reiterated Hardik’s importance to the team, acknowledging his unique skill set and the challenges posed by his fitness issues.

The selectors aim to manage Hardik better, considering they have more time before the next T20 World Cup to evaluate options without rushing. Agarkar also addressed the absence of former vice-captain KL Rahul, noting that his fitness and Suryakumar’s qualities were crucial factors in the decision.

In summary, despite the captaincy change, the relationship between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya remains strong, and the decision was made with the future of the Indian T20I team in mind, focusing on consistent availability and performance.