Suryakumar Yadav, a 33-year-old explosive middle-order batsman, was named as the new T20 captain for India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Agarkar praised Suryakumar’s leadership qualities and his exceptional performance as one of the top T20 batters globally. “We feel that Suryakumar has all the necessary qualities to be a good captain,” Agarkar noted. “We wanted a captain who is likely to play all the games.”
Hardik Pandya, who has reportedly opted out of the subsequent three one-day internationals in Sri Lanka, remains an important player, according to Agarkar. “His skill sets are hard to find,” he added.
Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed coach, also shared his coaching philosophy. Emphasizing the importance of trust and freedom for players, Gambhir stated, “The best relationship is built on trust. I can promise that the most important thing is that they will always have my back.”
Rohit Sharma, aged 37, and Virat Kohli, 35, both stepped back from T20 internationals post-World Cup. Gambhir expressed confidence in their continued value for the Test and 50-over formats and hoped they would remain motivated for future tours and tournaments.
Retirement decisions, Gambhir concluded, are deeply personal, and he respects the choices of experienced players like Rohit and Kohli.