Gautam Gambhir may have given the final push, but the idea of elevating Suryakumar Yadav into a leadership role first emerged during Rahul Dravid’s tenure. One key reason Surya edged Hardik Pandya in the T20I captaincy race was the Indian team‘s desire to appoint a skipper more likely to avoid lengthy injury absences and remain available for all matches. Given Hardik’s history of prolonged injuries, that outcome seemed unlikely.

After the ODI World Cup 2023, the idea of transitioning Surya into the captaincy role began to take shape. With uncertainty surrounding Hardik Pandya’s recovery from the ankle injury he sustained early in the tournament, the selectors entrusted the 33-year old with leading India’s T20I squad for the home series against Australia. Suryakumar rose to the occasion, guiding the team to a convincing 4-1 series victory.

Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey explained the reasoning behind head coach Rahul Dravid, the team management, and the selectors’ decision to put the flamboyant batter in the leading role.

“When selecting a captain, the expectation is that they will play consistently in that format. As coaches and selectors, we believe this player has a bright future in T20Is. He has truly mastered the skills required, making him one of the best batters today. Along with Klaasen, he is among the top 1-2 performers in T20Is based on recent form. The sheer impact he has on winning games for India is phenomenal,” revealed Mhambrey.

“Surya is a good cricketer who has a close rapport with the younger members of the team. We have seasoned stalwarts Rohit and Virat, but Surya is more approachable and friendly, earning the respect of the youngsters. He is adept at interacting with the younger players and building strong bonds across the team. Having come up through the ranks himself, Surya’s wealth of experience and smart cricket skills make him a valuable asset,” he added.

“Despite his age, he still has a lot to give to the team, making him an excellent choice,” Mhambrey opined.