“Want someone who is likely to be available more often than not” – Ajit Agarkar on Hardik Pandya missing out on India’s T20I captaincy

India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar has shed light on why Hardik Pandya had to miss out on India’s T20I captaincy. Pandya was Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, which India won to break their major ICC title hoodoo.

However, SKY took over the captaincy baton in T20Is ahead of Hardik Pandya as the all-rounder has fitness concerns and workload management issues, confirmed Agarkar. 

Suryakumar led India in seven T20Is in 2023 against South Africa and Australia and the team won five games. On the other hand, Hardik Pandya had more captaincy experience than SKY, having led India in three ODIs and 16 T20Is.

Furthermore, Pandya has the experience of leading Gujarat Titans to glory in IPL 2022 and also the tournament’s final in the following season. Pandya led Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 but could not deliver as a leader as well as a player.

Ajit Agarkar said in a press conference in Mumbai, “He (Hardik) is still a very important player for us and we want him to be the player that he can be because those sorts of skill sets are very difficult to find. Fitness has been a challenge for him over the last few years, and then it becomes a bit more difficult for a coach or even us, the selector”s.

“Now we have got a bit more time till the next T20 World Cup where we can look at a few things. It is not rushed at the moment. He is an important player for us and performances are more important. That was the thought behind it. Fitness is a clear challenge and we want someone who is likely to be available more often than not.”

The former Indian pacer added that Suryakumar Yadav is one of deserving candidates for the leadership role.

“Suryakumar Yadav was made the captain because he is one of the most deserving candidates. We know, we have been around the group over the last year, and get feedback from the dressing room a lot. He has got a great cricket brain and he is one of the best T20 batters in the world. One of the main issues, obviously, was you want a captain that’s likely to play all the games. We think he is a deserving candidate and hopefully, we will see over time how he develops into the role.”

India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs against Sri Lanka in the upcoming tour.