IND vs WI: BCCI announced India’s squad for the approaching T20 International series against West Indies yesterday (July 5). The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee named a 15-member lineup for the five-match enthralling T20 series, kicking off on August 3rd. Team India will play a Test and ODI series against West Indies before the T20I series – which are part of the exact Caribbean tour.
Senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are missing from India’s T20 squad due to undisclosed reasons. Hardik Pandya will continue to lead the Indian team in T20s in Rohit Sharma’s absence. While reports suggest that Rohit and Virat have been dropped from the T20 side, experts assume that they have been given a rest. It will be interesting to see how things pan out concerning India’s T20 captaincy if Sharma returns.
India's T20I squad: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Surya Kumar Yadav (VC), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya (C), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 5, 2023
Giving Suryakumar Yadav the vice-captaincy is right: Aakash Chopra
Meanwhile, cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has backed Indian selectors’ bold calls regarding the team’s leadership. Chopra believes that Pandya will be given a run as India’s T20 captain, at least until the approaching World Cup 2024. Moreover, the 45-year-old appeared delighted with Suryakumar Yadav’s appointment as vice-captain.
“Hardik Pandya is now the captain and Suryakumar Yadav is the vice-captain. Giving him (Suryakumar) the vice-captaincy is right because of the way he has performed. It’s not just the seniority in the side but if you see otherwise as well, he had come with a lot of cricketing experience.” said Aakash Chopra
https://twitter.com/SublaniyaVinay/status/1676819540309839874?s=20
“Hardik Pandya, who had been given the captaincy after the T20 World Cup (2022) – it seems like that’s now a final fixture. Hardik Pandya will lead the Indian T20 team until the upcoming World Cup.” the former India opener further added
Suryakumar Yadav currently ranks at the top in the ICC T20 Internationals rankings. Yadav has been in sublime form in T20 cricket over the last few months and has led India’s batting unit in every aspect. Being the deputy of skipper Hardik Pandya, the 32-year-old will now play a substantial role in team India’s on-field and off-field decisions.
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