Cricket

India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav remains determined to add to his solitary Test cap, despite his impressive T20I credentials. The 34-year-old has been actively participating in domestic cricket, including the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, in an effort to earn a Test recall."When the time comes, I will make a Test comeback," Yadav asserted. "I am playing all the domestic tournaments, be it red-ball or white-ball. I don't miss any game. If that [Test comeback] has to happen, it will happen."Yadav also expressed his support for Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, who has faced criticism following India's 3-0 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand. "In sports, winning and losing are common. Everyone works hard, everyone wants to win," Yadav said. "For me, the most important thing in life is the balance. Whether he's [Rohit] doing well or not, his character does not change. That is one quality which I feel a sportsman should always have."As T20I captain, Yadav has learned valuable lessons from Rohit, particularly in handling youngsters. "I know how he [Rohit] treats the players, what he wants from them. So that route I have also taken because he's been very successful recently," Yadav explained. "I try to replicate that. When I am on the ground, I keep noticing how his body language is, how calm he is under pressure situations, how he talks to the bowlers, how he treats everyone on the field and off the field."Under Yadav's leadership, India has achieved impressive results in T20Is, winning 11 out of 13 matches. Yadav attributes this success to providing his players with freedom and clarity. "You have to understand what's happening around, what's going on in their [the players'] minds and it is very important to give them that comfort," he said. "Everyone has different skillset, and they also want to come out and express themselves. So that freedom is very important when they get onto the field and that is what I try and give."India's T20I squad for the South Africa series includes several young players, and Yadav believes they have made his job easier. "They have made my job very easy if you've seen the last two to three series," Yadav said. "I have told them to keep the needs of the team in front, and whatever calls they take, we are here to back them."Despite the bouncy nature of South African pitches, Yadav is confident in India's ability to perform well. "We do play on good bouncy pitches back home in India also. There are quite a few, so it's nothing new for us," he said. "And we played here last year. We know what the conditions are and what the ground and wicket have for us. We have our game plan, we'll back that and are very excited for the series ahead."

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his surprise and disappointment over the BCCI's decision to overlook Hardik Pandya as captain of the T20I team. Pandya was widely expected to take over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from the format. However, the BCCI opted to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the new skipper.Harbhajan believes that Pandya's experience and leadership qualities made him the ideal candidate for the captaincy. "He was your vice-captain...when Rohit Sharma is not the captain, your vice-captain becomes the captain," Harbhajan told Sports Yaari. "But if you tell him on fitness ground that you will not be the captain - there's no T20I cricket round the year."Harbhajan added that losing the captaincy must have been a significant setback for Pandya. "He came after winning the T20 World Cup and suddenly, it's a big setback for him. It's not right," he said. "I have great respect for Suryakumar Yadav. Phenomenal player, great guy...very selfless. Even he wouldn't have thought that this would happen."The BCCI's decision has also raised questions about Pandya's fitness. The all-rounder has been struggling with injuries in recent months, and there are concerns that he may not be able to handle the rigors of captaincy.However, Harbhajan believes that Pandya's fitness is not a major issue. "He's a young guy, he's fit," Harbhajan said. "He's been playing for India for a long time now. He knows how to manage his body."The BCCI has named a 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with Yadav leading the team. The matches will be played on October 6 (Gwalior), October 9 (New Delhi), and October 12 (Hyderabad).

Sophie Devine, the formidable New Zealand all-rounder, has announced her decision to step down as the T20I captain after the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE. However, she will continue to lead the ODI side.Devine, who has captained New Zealand in 56 T20Is, has been a pivotal figure in the team's success. She has led the White Ferns to the final of the 2020 T20 World Cup and the semi-finals of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.However, Devine believes it is the right time to reduce her workload and allow the next generation of leaders to emerge. "I'm very proud to have had the privilege to captain the White Ferns in both formats," she said. "With captaincy comes an additional workload that, while I've enjoyed taking on, can also be challenging at times."Devine's decision to step down from the T20I captaincy will allow her to focus more on her playing role and nurture the future leaders. "I'm not ready to give up ODI captaincy just yet," she added. "But I won't be around forever, so I think stepping away from captaining one format at a time gives the next leaders time to find their feet."Ben Swayer, the head coach, praised Devine's leadership and experience. "Soph is the epitome of a fearless leader and we're really grateful for the leadership she brings to this group on and off the field," he said. "She's one of the most experienced White Ferns ever and her leadership and knowledge of the game has been so valuable as we have introduced several young players into the team over the past two years."Devine is currently recovering from a foot injury ahead of New Zealand's three-match T20I series in Australia next month. The series will serve as preparation for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the UAE from October 10 to November 13. New Zealand will name their squad for the World Cup on September 10.The decision on who will replace Devine as T20I captain has yet to be made. New Zealand's next series in the format after the World Cup will be against Sri Lanka in March.

Hardik Pandya's sudden removal as India's T20I captain and exclusion from the ODI squad has raised eyebrows. The decision, made by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, has been attributed to Pandya's fitness concerns and limited availability.Pandya, who led India to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, has been plagued by injuries, including an ankle issue during the 50-over World Cup last year. Despite his impressive performance in the T20 World Cup, scoring 144 runs and taking 11 wickets, Pandya's fitness has become a concern.Former India pacer Ashish Nehra expressed surprise at the decision, stating that Pandya's fitness and limited match play could be factors. However, Nehra emphasized Pandya's importance in India's white-ball setup when fit.Suryakumar Yadav, who has been appointed as India's new T20I captain, shares a close bond with former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir, who showed faith in Suryakumar during their time together at KKR, may view him as a long-term captaincy prospect.Nehra believes that Suryakumar's captaincy will depend on his form, equation with the coach and selection committee, and the team's performance. He also highlighted the transition in the Indian team after the World Cup win, with Rohit Sharma remaining as the main captain and Shubman Gill as his deputy.Nehra expressed confidence in Suryakumar's abilities under Gambhir's guidance, citing their familiarity from their time at KKR. He also noted that other countries have successfully implemented multiple captains in different formats.

After being overlooked for the T20I captaincy, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has advised star all-rounder Hardik Pandya to prioritize playing time and draw inspiration from his ICC T20 World Cup heroics to maintain peak fitness.Pandya, who served as Rohit Sharma's deputy during India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, was considered a frontrunner to succeed Rohit as captain. However, he was named only as a player for the ongoing Sri Lanka tour, with Suryakumar Yadav appointed as T20I captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain.Shastri attributed Pandya's fitness concerns as the primary reason for his exclusion from the captaincy. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized the need for a consistently available player, which tipped the scales against Pandya.In an interview with The ICC Review, Shastri urged Pandya to play as much as possible to regain match fitness. He advised Pandya to participate in all available T20I matches and consider playing in one-day games if he feels fit enough.However, Shastri stressed the importance of bowling consistently for Pandya to be considered for one-day cricket. He noted that a player who can only bowl three overs in a one-day game would disrupt the team's balance.Pandya has a history of major injuries dating back to 2018, including a stress fracture and back surgery. He also sustained an ankle injury during the Cricket World Cup 2023.Despite these setbacks, Pandya showcased his exceptional talent in the T20 World Cup, scoring crucial runs and taking important wickets. He played a pivotal role in India's victory in the final, taking the wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the last over.Shastri believes that Pandya's recent performances should motivate him to regain full fitness. He emphasized that Pandya understands his body better than anyone and should be inspired by his World Cup heroics to prioritize his fitness.

Pakistan's star pace bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has declared that his unwavering priority lies in securing victories for his nation, rather than pursuing the coveted role of captaincy. During a recent media interaction in Karachi, Afridi emphasized that leadership positions are not within his control and do not align with his personal aspirations."Pakistan's success takes precedence over everything else, followed by the team's performance, and only then do I come into the picture," Afridi asserted. "Dwelling on the past serves no purpose. My focus remains firmly on the present, and I refrain from speculating about the future. By excelling in the present, we can lay a solid foundation for the future. Captaincy is not something I can control, and it has never been a driving force in my cricketing journey. My sole motivation is to represent Pakistan with honor and dignity."Afridi's appointment as Pakistan's T20I captain came in the wake of the team's disappointing exit from the group stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. He led the side in a five-match series against New Zealand, which Pakistan lost 1-4. Despite the opportunity to demonstrate his leadership abilities, Afridi's tenure as T20I captain was short-lived, as Babar Azam was reinstated as Pakistan's white-ball captain ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup.Afridi's candid remarks underscore his unwavering commitment to his role as a player, with an unwavering focus on contributing to the team's success rather than seeking personal accolades. His primary objective remains to help Pakistan achieve victories on the cricket field, regardless of his position or responsibilities.

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris believes that Suryakumar Yadav's appointment as India's T20I captain is a temporary measure, with Gautam Gambhir grooming Shubman Gill as the long-term leader.Styris, speaking to India Today, said, "I think he's a short-term option. I don't think Gambhir has a natural captain amongst the players that he has right now."He added, "He's buying himself time as to who will be the next long-term captain. Someone like Gill I think could do the job for 10 years for India, but he's not quite ready right now, so I think it was a really smart decision to bring in someone with a bit more experience."Suryakumar Yadav, fondly known as SKY, was appointed India's T20I captain after Rohit Sharma retired from the shortest format. Gill was named vice-captain for both the T20Is and ODIs on the Sri Lanka tour.Styris believes that Gill has the potential to be India's long-term captain, but he needs more experience. "You know, someone like Gill I think could do the job for 10 years for India, but he's not quite ready right now, so I think it was a really smart decision to bring in someone with a bit more experience," he said.SKY, at 33, is older than Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, who is 37. Therefore, developing a long-term captain for the future appears to be a sensible move by Gambhir.Gill captained India for the first time during the post-T20 World Cup tour to Zimbabwe, where India won the five-match series 4-1. Earlier in the year, Gill had captained IPL franchise Gujarat Titans to a disappointing 8th-place finish.Styris mentioned that despite the long-term vision, SKY could remain India's T20I captain till the next T20 World Cup in 2026. "If he (SKY) does a decent enough job, then he might be the captain at the next T20 World Cup. And then after that, you can look at Gill or any of the other potential options around. But yeah, I think it's a really clever decision," said Styris.India's three-match T20I tour of Sri Lanka gets underway on Saturday, July 27.

India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has expressed his desire to be recognized as a leader rather than merely a captain. His astute captaincy skills were evident in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, where he guided India to a successful defense of their total.Faced with a daunting chase of 214, Sri Lanka's openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, threatened to spoil India's plans. However, Suryakumar's tactical brilliance came to the fore. He brought back Arshdeep Singh, who dismissed Mendis, and then introduced Axar Patel, whose spin wizardry removed Perera and Nissanka, effectively turning the tide in India's favor.Suryakumar's leadership qualities were lauded by former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. However, Suryakumar aspires to be more than just a captain. "I don't want to be a captain; I want to be a leader," he stated.One of the highlights of the match was Suryakumar's decision to hand the ball to Riyan Parag. Despite failing with the bat, Parag proved his worth with the ball, claiming three wickets for just five runs in 1.2 overs. Suryakumar explained his rationale for giving Parag the opportunity, citing his impressive bowling skills in the IPL and nets.India ultimately defended their total, restricting Sri Lanka to 170. With a 1-0 lead in the series, India secured an unassailable advantage in the second T20I.

Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya's Camaraderie Unfazed by Leadership ChangeAhead of the first T20I match against Sri Lanka, Team India's training session in Kandy witnessed a heartwarming display of camaraderie between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. Despite Hardik losing out on the T20I captaincy to Surya, there were no signs of animosity between the two players.During a fielding exercise designed by T Dilip, Surya and Hardik engaged in friendly banter and laughter. The camaraderie between them remained unaffected by the change in leadership roles within the team.In a video posted by the BCCI, Suryakumar and Hardik were captured chuckling during the training session. Head coach Gautam Gambhir couldn't help but smile at the lighthearted moment.Suryakumar replaced Rohit Sharma as T20I captain after Rohit announced his retirement from the 20-over format. He pipped Hardik to the post due to concerns over Hardik's frequent injury absences.However, Suryakumar holds Hardik in great esteem and emphasized that his responsibilities within the team will remain unchanged. "Hardik's role has always been the same. He is a very important player for the team. The way he performed in the World Cup, I hope he will continue to do the same," he said.The camaraderie between Suryakumar and Hardik is a testament to the strong team spirit within the Indian squad. Despite the competitive nature of the sport, the players maintain a positive and supportive environment, which is crucial for their success on the field.