Hardik Pandya's refusal to play Sri Lanka ODIs cost him India's T20I Captaincy- Report

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has reportedly lost the T20I captaincy race to Suryakumar Yadav because of the newly appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on July 18 the ODI and T20I squads for the Sri Lankan white-ball tour.

They have named Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain, overlooking Pandya for the Sri Lanka tour. However, he has been named in the T20I squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka, starting on July 27.

Hardik Pandya loses T20I captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav because of Gautam Gambhir?

It is being said that Pandya's request for a break from the upcoming three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka due to personal reasons led him to lose the opportunity to lead Team India in the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Notably, Gambhir recently emphasized the players’ participation across all three formats of the game. The Indian head coach argued that if players are in good form, they should be utilized in all three formats of the game for the national side.

He believes that managing injuries and recovery should not limit a player's participation. He also stressed that professional cricketers don’t have a longer career these days, so they should seize every opportunity to play for the national teams.

Gambhir's philosophy was a key topic during the selection committee meeting on Thursday. The Indian selectors and Gambhir have taken one of the most surprising calls in this meeting: not to consider Hardik for India’s T20I captaincy.

Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir explain their stand to Hardik Pandya

According to Cricbuzz, Hardik Pandya's decision to skip the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka may have influenced the selection committee and Gambhir’s decision to appoint Suryakumar as India’s T20I captain for the Sri Lanka tour.

The report claimed that Pandya was not appointed T20I captain despite being named in the squad because he wanted to skip the ODI series in Sri Lanka. It is also being said that both chief selectors Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir discussed with Pandya the importance of being available for all formats of the game and the consequences of his absence for the Sri Lanka ODIs.

Well, Gambhir and Agarkar's approach didn’t go down well with many, as Pandya took the break from the ODI series due to personal reasons, announcing his separation from his wife Natasa Stankovic on the same day, July 19, when the BCCI announced the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.

'Indian players are more comfortable to play under Suryakumar Yadav'

Meanwhile, according to a recent report by The Indian Express, feedback received by the BCCI suggested that the Indian players had more trust in Yadav compared to Pandya and felt more comfortable working under his leadership.

The selection meeting, which extended over two days, featured heated debates and differing opinions among the committee members over the team and captain selection. During this period, several calls were made to players to align them with the management's long-term vision.

The report also said that Yadav's skills in managing players left a significant impression on the BCCI. During the South Africa tour last year, Yadav reportedly convinced Ishan Kishan to remain with the squad when the youngster was considering leaving the Indian camp.