Former India fast bowler and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said he was not surprised by the Indian management’s decision not to appoint Hardik Pandya as the new T20I captain. Nehra said he understood the thought process of chief selector Ajit Agarkar and newly-appointed coach Gautam Gambhir in picking Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20I skipper.
Hardik Pandya, who led India in T20is in 2023, was Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the victorious World Cup campaign in June in the USA and the West Indies. While Hardik was expected to replace Rohit as T20I captain after the latter retired from the format, the BCCI announced Suryakumar as the new T20I captain for the upcoming three-match series in Sri Lanka.
Ajit Agarkar, speaking to the press on Monday, said that the team management wanted Hardik Pandya to focus on his fitness and backed Suryakumar to shine in his new role. The former fast bowler pointed fingers at Hardik’s recurring injury concerns that have put him on the sidelines frequently over the last four to five years.
“No, I am not surprised. When it comes to cricket, these things keep happening. Yes, Hardik Pandya was vice-captain in the World Cup, but at the same time, there is a new coach who has come in. Every coach and every captain have different thoughts. At this time, his (Gambhir’s) ideas are toward that direction,” Nehra told India Today’s sister channel SportsTak.
“I think Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir have made it clear, that’s good. He is playing one format, 50-over also, he is playing less. Hardik Pandya, in white-ball cricket, will remain a very, very important player for Indian cricket. When you have him, you can have 4 fast bowlers, he brings in a different balance to the side and keep in mind, that there’s no impact player in international cricket.
“Not just Hardik Pandya, but when you have so many matches, there will be changes. Even Rishabh Pant has captained, KL Rahul has captained,” he added.
COACH NEHRA THRILLED FOR SHUBMAN GILL
Notably, Hardik Pandya tasted success in his first assignment as the captain of an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in 2022 at Gujarat Titans. He formed a good working relationship with Titans’ coach Nehra. The two oversaw GT’s run to glory in IPL 2022 and the team also reached the final of IPL in 2023.
Meanwhile, Ashish Nehra also welcomed the decision to appoint Shubman Gill as the vice-captain in both T20Is and ODis, saying the Gujarat Titans captain will only improve with experience across all three formats. Nehra and Gill worked together as the captain and coach for the Titans in 2024.
“They have made Shubman Gill in not just one format, but in all three formats. That means you are looking ahead.
“Shubman Gill is a work in progress. He is 24-25 years old now. He will get better as we go ahead. He has the desire to play all 3 formats, he has the heart to learn. He is not someone who thinks that whatever he is doing is right. He is not that kind of guy. Be it a youngster or an experienced player, he likes to have a discussion and learn,” he said.
Team India arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday and began training for the upcoming T20I series, starting July 27, on Tuesday. Coach Gambhir and captain Suryakumar oversaw their first training session together in Pallekele.
