Ajit Agarkar on Hardik Pandya’s T20I Captaincy Decision

Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors for the BCCI, recently addressed the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as India’s new T20I captain over Hardik Pandya. Agarkar emphasized that while Hardik remains a vital player for the team, his fitness issues played a significant role in the decision. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Suryakumar Yadav the new T20I captain, with an eye on the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Agarkar explained that Hardik Pandya’s fitness challenges made it difficult for the selectors and the coach to rely on him as a captain. “Regarding Hardik, he’s still a very important player for us. Fitness has obviously been a challenge for him… Then it becomes difficult for the coach or selectors. Fitness is a clear challenge and we want someone who is available more often than not,” Agarkar said during a press conference.

Despite being widely expected to take on the leadership role after serving as vice-captain during the T20 World Cup, Hardik was informed of the decision before the official squad announcement for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. Hardik’s captaincy experience with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, where he led the team to two finals and a trophy in their debut season, was noteworthy. However, his fitness concerns influenced the selectors’ decision significantly.

Hardik has faced various challenges during his time with the Mumbai Indians, including crowd reactions and media speculation about internal rifts. In addition to his IPL leadership, Hardik has led India in 16 T20Is and three ODIs during Rohit Sharma’s absence.

Suryakumar Yadav’s first assignment as captain will be the T20I series against Sri Lanka on July 27, 28, and 30, with all matches scheduled to be played in Pallekele. The selectors believe that Suryakumar has the necessary qualities to lead the team and manage the responsibilities effectively.