As the debate over Hardik Pandya’s T20I captaincy continues, his personal life has also captured fans’ attention. Amidst discussions about his unavailability for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, his wife, Natasa Stankovic, has sparked curiosity with her social media activity. Hardik was anticipated to be named India’s full-time T20I captain but might now lose the role to Suryakumar Yadav due to concerns from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding his long-term fitness. Hardik has also cited ‘personal reasons’ for his absence from the ODI series against Sri Lanka. In the midst of this, Natasa shared pictures on Instagram, showing her packing bags, accompanied by plane and house emojis, suggesting she and their son Agastya are traveling to Serbia.
This development has added another layer to the ongoing narrative surrounding Hardik’s future with the national team. Natasa and Agastya were later seen at the airport, with Hardik notably absent, further fueling speculation.
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Suryakumar Yadav’s Rise
Suryakumar Yadav is expected to assume the T20I captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who, after leading India to a T20 World Cup victory, retired from the format along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite Hardik’s significant captaincy experience—having led India in three ODIs and 16 T20Is, and captaining Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in the IPL—his recurring injuries have affected his availability. His latest injury, an ankle issue during the ODI World Cup in October 2023, kept him out of action until IPL 2024. Since the start of 2022, Hardik has only played in 46 out of India’s 79 T20Is.
In contrast, Suryakumar Yadav brings substantial leadership experience, having captained Mumbai in domestic cricket and leading India in T20I series against Australia and South Africa last year. His aggressive batting style is well-suited to the demands of modern T20 cricket, making him a crucial player for India.
New Leadership and Future Plans
The Sri Lanka tour will also signify the beginning of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup. This tour is viewed as the initial phase in preparing the team for the next T20 World Cup, scheduled for 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. The appointment of Suryakumar Yadav as captain aligns with the BCCI’s vision for a stable and forward-looking leadership structure.
The upcoming series against Sri Lanka, with Suryakumar at the helm and Gambhir in the coaching role, marks a significant shift in Indian cricket, aiming to build a robust team for future challenges.