Indian middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav is set to captain India in T20Is until the T20 World Cup 2026. SKY has reportedly pipped all-rounder Hardik Pandya, the vice-captain of the side which won the T20 World Cup this year and was considered the heir apparent to Rohit Sharma who announced retirement.
Before the World Cup, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav led Team India in the shortest format and won a series against some top sides. Notably, reports also claimed the BCCI was puzzled over the Mumbai Indians pair until PTI reported that SKY has been considered as the skipper for the shortest format.
Suryakumar Yadav to be T20I captain until T20 World Cup '26: Reports
As per PTI, a senior BCCI source on conditions of anonymity said, "Hardik Pandya was India's T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T201 series and was supposed to lead the side but there is a very strong feeling that SKY would be the potential leader not only for the Sri Lanka series but till the 2026 World Cup."
The report also spoke about Pandya and his decision to take a break from the upcoming ODIs against Sri Lanka. The report said, "Hardik's break from ODIs is for very personal reasons. He doesn't have any fitness issue as is being suggested in the media," the official said.