Cricket

Star Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav is gearing up for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which commences on July 27. In preparation for the series, Yadav has been diligently practicing and shared a glimpse of his training regimen on Instagram. The 33-year-old posted a video of himself running on the field, showcasing his dedication to the sport.Yadav has been appointed as the captain of India's T20I team for the Sri Lanka tour, with Shubman Gill serving as the vice-captain for both the T20I and ODI sides. This decision marks a shift in leadership, as Hardik Pandya, who previously led the T20I team, has been removed from the role.Pandya's removal comes despite his impressive performance in the recent T20 World Cup, where he scored 144 runs and took 11 wickets. However, Yadav has also proven his leadership capabilities, having led India to five victories in seven matches during his previous stints as captain.India's tour of Sri Lanka will feature a three-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series. The T20I leg will be played at the Pallekele International Stadium, while the ODI matches will be held at the R Premadasa Stadium.Both teams will be led by new head coaches. Sanath Jayasuriya has been named as the interim head coach for Sri Lanka, while Gautam Gambhir will take over as India's head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid.India's last bilateral white-ball series in Sri Lanka was in July 2021, where they won the ODI series 2-1 and lost the T20I series by the same margin. The upcoming tour will provide both teams with an opportunity to test their skills and prepare for future challenges.

India's squad announcements for the Sri Lanka tour have raised several questions beyond the headlines of Suryakumar Yadav's T20I captaincy and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ODI participation.Ravindra Jadeja's Status:Despite his T20I retirement, Jadeja remains India's primary spin-bowling allrounder in ODIs. He has been rested for the Sri Lanka series to give Axar Patel an opportunity and preserve Jadeja for the upcoming Test matches.Mohammed Shami's Return:Shami is recovering from Achilles surgery and is expected to return for the home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He could be considered for the 2025 Champions Trophy if he remains fit.Kuldeep Yadav's T20I Break:Kuldeep has been rested from T20Is to give Ravi Bishnoi more experience. He remains India's frontline spinner in that format.Yuzvendra Chahal's Future:Chahal is still considered a backup spinner, but his limited utility as a bowler only may hinder his chances of regular selection.Hardik Pandya's ODI Absence:Pandya has requested a break from ODIs due to concerns over his bowling workload. The selectors are focusing on developing other seam-bowling allrounders in his absence.KL Rahul's All-Format Status:Rahul remains a key player in Tests and ODIs, despite his exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad. He is expected to return as a wicketkeeper in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan's Injuries:Mayank Yadav has suffered a side injury and a separate injury while bowling at the NCA. Mohsin Khan has a lower-back injury. Both players are expected to prove their fitness in domestic cricket before being considered for international selection.Tilak Varma's Absence:Varma has missed out on the T20I squad due to a hand injury. He is expected to return to action once he recovers.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian batter renowned for his aggressive leadership and tactical acumen, has been appointed as the new head coach of Team India. This marks a new era for the Indian cricket team, which recently triumphed at the T20 World Cup 2024 under the guidance of Rahul Dravid.Gambhir's appointment has been met with anticipation and excitement. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has praised Gambhir's leadership qualities, stating that he is a "complete players' man" who will protect his players and bring a "clever tactical angle" to the team.Gambhir's coaching tenure will commence with an upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Suryakumar Yadav has been named as the skipper for the T20Is, while Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the ODIs. Notably, young batter Shubman Gill has been appointed as the vice-captain for both series.Gambhir's coaching credentials include two IPL trophies as a player with Kolkata Knight Riders and a successful stint as a mentor for the same franchise in 2024. His experience and tactical nous are expected to guide Team India towards continued success.The Sri Lanka series will provide an early glimpse of Gambhir's coaching philosophy and the team's performance under his leadership. The T20Is will begin on July 27, followed by the ODIs.

Hardik Pandya's captaincy aspirations have been dealt a significant blow with the announcement of India's squad for the Sri Lanka tour. Despite expectations of being named T20I captain, the new management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, has opted for Suryakumar Yadav as the skipper.Gambhir's arrival as head coach has reportedly played a role in Pandya's omission, with the former India opener unconvinced by his consistency and fitness. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has also expressed concerns about Pandya's tactical awareness, a crucial attribute for a successful captain.Agarkar's reservations stem from Pandya's below-par international appearance percentage of 50% across T20Is and ODIs in the last 19 months. The selection committee believes he requires guidance and support, which he received from Ashish Nehra at Gujarat Titans but not from Mark Boucher at Mumbai Indians.The younger players in the Indian dressing room are also said to respond better to Suryakumar's leadership style than Pandya's. This feedback has further influenced the decision to hand the captaincy to the Mumbai Indians batter.Pandya's path forward is now uncertain. He must perform exceptionally well in the Sri Lanka T20Is to prove his worth. Additionally, he needs to play domestic cricket to improve his international appearance percentage.If Pandya aspires to represent India at the Champions Trophy next year, he must participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Baroda in December. Despite the setback, Pandya's leadership ambitions are not over, as cricket is a game of unpredictable twists and turns.

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed his support for Hardik Pandya as the T20I captain, following the appointment of Suryakumar Yadav as the skipper for the Sri Lanka tour. Kaif believes that Pandya's experience as a leader should have been considered by the selection panel.Kaif highlighted Pandya's successful tenure as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, where he led the team to the title in their inaugural season. He also pointed out Pandya's experience as T20I vice-captain during India's triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup."Hardik has captained the Gujarat Titans for two years and in their first year itself, they made it to the final," Kaif said. "He has experience captaining the T20I side. He was also the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup."Kaif expressed his belief that the selection panel should have backed Pandya, given his proven leadership abilities. He also praised Suryakumar Yadav's qualities as a player but emphasized that Pandya's experience should have been given priority."I feel they should have backed Hardik," Kaif said. "He has not done anything wrong that he should not get the captaincy."Kaif acknowledged that fitness concerns may have influenced the selection panel's decision. However, he believes that Pandya's leadership skills and experience should have outweighed any fitness issues."He has experience, has captained in the IPL and leading a new team (Gujarat Titans) to a trophy, with fresh and young faces, is a huge thing," Kaif said. "He has made the Titans win by working from Ground Zero in the IPL...I think he was entitled to the captaincy."

Suryakumar Yadav, India's newly appointed T20I captain, has expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support and affection he has received from fans and well-wishers. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Yadav acknowledged the immense responsibility that comes with the captaincy but also expressed his excitement and enthusiasm for the role."Thank you so much for the outpouring of love, support, and best wishes from you all," Yadav wrote. "The last few weeks have been nothing short of a dream, and I am truly grateful. Playing for the country is the most special feeling that I will never be able to describe in words."Yadav's appointment as T20I captain follows Rohit Sharma's decision to step down from the role after India's triumph at the T20 World Cup last month. The 33-year-old Yadav has been selected to lead a 15-member Indian T20 team for a three-match series in Sri Lanka, starting on July 27 in Pallekele.According to reports, Yadav's aggressive batting style in the middle order and his reliability in the T20 format made him the primary choice for new head coach Gautam Gambhir. Yadav, who previously captained Mumbai in domestic cricket, led India to a 4-1 T20 series win over Australia last year and followed it up with a 1-1 result in South Africa.Yadav's appointment has been met with widespread praise from the cricketing fraternity. Former India captain Virat Kohli hailed Yadav as a "fearless and aggressive" player who will bring a "fresh perspective" to the team. Head coach Gambhir expressed confidence in Yadav's leadership abilities, saying that he is "a natural leader who leads by example."As India prepares for the T20I series against Sri Lanka, Yadav will be keen to make a strong start to his captaincy tenure. The series will provide him with an opportunity to establish his authority and set the tone for the team's future. With his proven ability and the support of his teammates and fans, Yadav is well-positioned to lead India to success in the shortest format of the game.

Hardik Pandya's meteoric rise in Indian cricket has hit a sudden roadblock. After leading India to victory in the T20I series against West Indies, Pandya has been overlooked for the captaincy of the Indian T20 team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. This decision has raised questions about his future in the team and his leadership abilities.The decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the captain instead of Pandya is a clear indication that the selectors have lost confidence in his captaincy skills. This is a significant setback for Pandya, who was seen as a potential long-term captain for India.The Mumbai Indians, Pandya's IPL franchise, are also facing a dilemma regarding his captaincy. After a disappointing season under Pandya's leadership, the franchise is considering whether to retain him as captain or look for a replacement.Pandya's position is further complicated by the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian team. Gambhir is known to have reservations about Pandya's tactical acumen, which is crucial for an international captain.To make matters worse, Pandya's international appearance percentage has dropped to a subpar 50 percent in the last 19 months. This means that he needs to perform consistently in domestic cricket to improve his chances of selection for the Indian team.Despite these setbacks, Pandya remains a talented all-rounder with the potential to be a match-winner. He will need to prove his worth in the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka and in domestic cricket to keep his hopes of playing in the Champions Trophy next year alive.

Suryakumar Yadav's appointment as India's T20I captain for the Sri Lanka tour has sparked debate, with former batsman Mohammad Kaif expressing his belief that Hardik Pandya should have retained the role.Kaif, in an interview with IANS, argued that Pandya's experience as T20I captain and his successful stint leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL made him the ideal choice. "Hardik has captained the Gujarat Titans for two years and in their first year itself, they made it to the final... Hardik has experience captaining the T20I side. He was also the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup," Kaif said.Kaif also questioned the decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain, replacing Pandya. "Gambhir is an experienced captain and coach...He understands cricket very well. I think 'Hardik ne aisa koi galat kaam nhi kia k unko captaincy na mile' (Hardik has not done anything wrong that he should not get the captaincy)," Kaif added.Pandya led India in 16 T20Is before suffering an injury during the ODI World Cup last year. He also guided the Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in 2022 and the runners-up spot in 2023.Kaif believes Pandya's experience and success in both the IPL and international cricket made him the most suitable candidate for the T20I captaincy. "He has experience, has captained in the IPL; and leading a new team (Gujarat Titans) to trophy, with fresh and young faces, is a huge thing. He has made the Titans win by working from zero in the IPL...I think he was entitled to the captaincy," he said.Despite Kaif's reservations, Suryakumar Yadav remains a highly respected and experienced player. He is currently ranked as the world's No. 1 T20I batsman and has been a key member of India's T20I team for several years. It remains to be seen whether he can lead India to success in the upcoming Sri Lanka tour and beyond.

Ruturaj Gaikwad's omission from India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The Chennai Super Kings captain has been in impressive form, scoring 133 runs in three innings during India's recent T20 series against Zimbabwe.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad on Thursday, appointing Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of Team India. Shubman Gill has been named as the vice-captain, following his leadership role in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. In a notable change from previous selections, Hardik Pandya, who has captained the team in the past, will not assume the captaincy role for this series.The squad will see the return of pacers Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj, as well as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, all of whom were rested during India's tour of Zimbabwe.The T20I series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to commence on July 27, consisting of three matches, with subsequent ODIs set to begin on August 1. The T20I matches will take place on July 27, 28, and 30, marking the beginning of the bilateral series.This series is also significant due to the introduction of new head coaches for both teams. Sanath Jayasuriya, the celebrated all-rounder, has been appointed as the interim head coach for the Sri Lankan team. For India, former opener Gautam Gambhir will take over as head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid, the T20 World Cup-winning coach. This marks Gambhir's first assignment in this role.The last bilateral white-ball series between India and Sri Lanka took place in July 2021, with India winning the ODI series 2-1 and Sri Lanka securing the T20I series by the same margin. Rahul Dravid coached the Indian team during this series, which featured Shikhar Dhawan as the captain.The upcoming series will be India's second T20I series following their victory at the T20 World Cup, where they defeated South Africa. Recently, India also clinched a 4-1 victory in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.Gaikwad's exclusion has sparked debates and discussions among fans, who believe his recent performances warranted a spot in the squad. Many experts have expressed surprise at the decision, given his impressive form and the fact that he was part of the team that won the T20 World Cup.