Hardik Pandya gets a royal snub by Gautam Gambhir in SL series as GG favours Surya and Shubman

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the squads for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka, marking a significant shift in leadership dynamics within the Indian cricket team. Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed captain of the T20I squad, with Shubman Gill named his deputy. This decision comes as a surprise to many, especially considering Hardik Pandya's stint as captain during the T20 World Cup 2024 and his expected role as the successor to Rohit Sharma.

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Gautam Gambhir snubs T20 World Cup-winning vice-captain Hardik Pandya

Gautam Gambhir, in his inaugural series as head coach, has opted to place his trust in Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, sidelining Hardik Pandya for leadership roles. This move reflects Gambhir's strategic vision and preference for youthful leadership amidst a transitional phase for Indian cricket.

The T20I squad features an array of young talents including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Riyan Parag, bolstered by experienced campaigners like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson behind the stumps. Hardik Pandya, known for his explosive batting and handy seam bowling, remains a crucial component despite not assuming leadership responsibilities.

In the ODI squad, Rohit Sharma retains captaincy with Shubman Gill continuing as vice-captain, supported by stalwarts Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in the batting lineup. The presence of promising talents such as Shreyas Iyer and Riyan Parag ensures a balanced squad capable of adapting to various match situations.

As the Indian team prepares for their first bilateral tour of Sri Lanka since 2021, all eyes will be on how the new leadership under Suryakumar Yadav and the strategic choices by Gautam Gambhir pan out on the field. The series promises to be a litmus test for India's bench strength and future leadership prospects in white-ball cricket.

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India squads for T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman 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.

ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.