Hardik Pandya Sits with New Coach Gautam Gambhir as India Begins T20I Series in Sri Lanka
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/24th July 2024
The Indian cricket team has embarked on a significant tour of Sri Lanka, featuring three T20 Internationals followed by three One Day Internationals. This tour marks the debut assignment of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of Team India. The recent coaching appointment brought with it a major decision: Suryakumar Yadav was chosen as the new captain for the T20I format, a role that had been previously associated with Rohit Sharma. This decision came despite Hardik Pandya being a leading contender for the captaincy position, especially after India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Upon their arrival in Kandy, where the team is currently based, a noteworthy scene unfolded involving the newly appointed head coach Gambhir and his players. As the team boarded the bus, it was Hardik Pandya who took the seat next to Gambhir, positioned at the front row, while assistant coach Abhishek Nayar sat directly behind them. In contrast, Suryakumar Yadav, the newly appointed T20I captain, chose a seat at the back of the bus. This seating arrangement sparked interest among fans and media alike.
Despite the evident camaraderie between Pandya, Gambhir, and Nayar, which included shared laughter and engaging conversations, rumors of discord regarding the captaincy decision were quickly dispelled. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were seen sharing a warm hug, clearly indicating that there were no hard feelings about the leadership change. This gesture was seen as a positive sign of unity within the team, especially given the competitive nature of international cricket.
Gautam Gambhir’s decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain, rather than Pandya, was influenced by concerns over Pandya’s recurring fitness issues. Despite Pandya being a popular choice and having performed exceptionally well in the past, his injury history played a crucial role in the decision-making process. As a result, Yadav has been given the responsibility of leading the team in T20 internationals, with the expectation that he will also lead in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Interestingly, Pandya has not been named as the vice-captain for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Instead, this role has been assigned to Shubman Gill, who previously captained India in a T20I series against Zimbabwe and led the team to a convincing 4-1 series victory.
The current T20I squad for the series against Sri Lanka includes key players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, and prominent wicketkeepers Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. The squad also features Hardik Pandya, who remains an integral part of the team despite not holding a leadership position.
As the series progresses, all eyes will be on how the new captain Suryakumar Yadav performs and whether Hardik Pandya’s presence alongside Gambhir will positively influence the team’s dynamics and performance. This tour promises to be an exciting start to Gambhir’s coaching tenure and sets the stage for a compelling series of matches.
