SKY leads, Pandya strolls!

ldquoIt was always decided like thatrdquo were the words of a BCCI official when MidDay approached the board for a comment after Indiarsquos squads for the upcoming Sri Lanka series were announced on Thursday eveningldquoWe were prepared to announce some very interesting names on this tour The Board is keen on training youngsters so they could bear the mantle in the coming years I canrsquot comment anything on Hardik Pandya the young must be given a chance toordquo he added requesting anonymityInteresting indeed as seen by newlyelected head coach Gautam Gambhirrsquos influential presence in the selection process It is believed that the former India opener made a resounding entry into his role by wisely orchestrating the appointment of Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20 captain a decision that sidelined Pandya initially seen as a frontrunner for the leadership mantle following Rohit Sharmas retirement from the formatGautam GambhirThe forthcoming whiteball series against Sri Lanka represents more than just a routine bilateral engagement for Gambhir whose strategic alignment with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar on matters of captaincy was evident on ThursdayBoth Gambhir and Agarkar concurred unanimously on elevating Suryakumar to captaincy looking ahead to the joint hosting of the T20 World Cup by India and Sri Lanka in 2026 This series against Sri Lanka serves as a crucial precursor to that eventThe decision to overlook Pandya for the T20 captaincy was communicated to him on Tuesday by both Agarkar and Gambhir marking a tough but necessary call Pandya celebrated for his pivotal role as vicecaptain in Indias recent World Cup triumph and his memorable last over in the final against South Africa also served as vicecaptain during the 50over World Cup last year before being sidelined due to injury With Shubman Gill now assuming deputy roles in both T20Is and ODIs it is naturally evident that the selection committee and Gambhir are looking beyond Pandya for leadership prospectsPandyas frequent injury setbacks played a significant role in the decisionmaking process He participated in only 46 out of 79 T20I games since January 2022 while Suryakumars missed matches were minimal and primarily due to a hernia surgerySuryakumars leadership credentials were bolstered by Indias successful campaigns under his captaincy including a 41 triumph over Australia in a T20I series last November and a commendable 11 draw in South AfricaDespite being excluded from T20Is Pandya remains a part of the squad and has opted out of ODIs due to personal reasonsWith only six ODIs left in 2024 including the Sri Lanka series which is the final installment before next years Champions Trophy it is believed that both captain Rohit Sharma and key batsman Virat Kohli have opted for early return to national duty Their return ensures that Gambhir can strategise effectively regarding team combinationsMeanwhile Jasprit Bumrah the linchpin of Indias pace attack and often referred to as the teams Kohinoor has been rested strategically while Ravindra Jadejas exclusion aims to preserve him for the upcoming 10 Test matches split equally between home and away fixturesAs things are turning out Gambhirs debut series as head coach signals a transformative phase for Indian cricket marked by strategic decisions aimed at longterm success and rejuvenation across formats The meticulous planning and bold choices made by the 42yearold and the selection panel underscore their commitment to navigating challenges and positioning India as a formidable force in global cricketing arenas