Ignored For T20 World Cup, India Star Among Top Contenders For ODI Captaincy vs Sri Lanka: Report

The upcoming India vs Sri Lanka series, set to kick off in the last week of July, marks a significant turning point for Indian cricket as Gautam Gambhir takes the reins as head coach. With veteran stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, fans can expect a fresh and dynamic team composition. This series will consist of three T20Is and three ODIs, with particular emphasis on the ODI matches as they serve as the foundation for India’s preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2027 ODI World Cup.

According to reports from PTI, Hardik Pandya, a key figure in India’s recent T20 World Cup victory, will take a break during the ODI series in August due to “personal reasons.” An official confirmed that Pandya has communicated this decision to regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who is also opting out of the series.

“The break from ODIs is for very personal reasons. Hardik doesn’t have any fitness issue as is being floated in the media,” the official stated.

With Pandya unavailable, the leadership for the ODIs is set to be a crucial decision. KL Rahul, who captained the last ODI series in South Africa, and Shubman Gill are both strong contenders for the role.

In a related development, PTI has reported that Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as a strong candidate for the T20 captaincy leading up to the 2026 World Cup. This potential shift could see Yadav surpass Pandya, whose elevation to vice-captain had previously seemed like a natural progression. Despite Pandya making himself available for the T20 matches against Sri Lanka, Surya Kumar’s leadership experience—having captained India in eight T20Is against Australia and South Africa last year—positions him as the preferred choice of both Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajith Agarkar.

Both Gambhir and Agarkar recently discussed this strategic change with Pandya, outlining the need for a long-term vision to ensure stability within the team.

With Rohit Sharma stepping away from the T20 format following India’s World Cup triumph in the West Indies, the T20 leadership role is now vacant, setting the stage for a new captain to emerge as India embarks on this exciting new chapter in their cricketing journey.