“Fitness An Excuse”: Ex-Pakistan Captain Criticizes BCCI Over Hardik Pandya Captaincy Decision

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was overlooked for the leadership role as Team India made a surprising decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as captain for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Hardik’s exclusion and Suryakumar’s promotion have ignited a significant debate within the cricket community. Over the past few years, Hardik has captained India in the absence of Rohit Sharma and served as vice-captain for the recent T20 World Cup, which India won by defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados.

Conversely, Suryakumar led India during last year’s T20I series against Australia and South Africa.

Following Rohit Sharma’s T20I retirement last month, Hardik was not even chosen as vice-captain, with Shubman Gill being selected for that role in both T20Is and ODIs.

At a press conference, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that concerns over Hardik’s fitness and availability for all matches influenced the decision to opt for Suryakumar instead. Hardik has had a history of injury issues.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif criticized the Indian selectors, asserting that fitness was merely an excuse for not appointing Hardik as captain. “They should just give him a certificate stating he isn’t fit. Many players were not super fit but still became great captains. This seems like just an excuse. If Surya wasn’t available, then Rishabh (Pant) would have been captain, considering the future,” Latif remarked on his YouTube channel.

The three-match T20I series will start on July 27 in Pallekele, with subsequent matches on July 28 and 30 at the same venue.

India’s T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.