Gambhir, Agarkar inform Hardik about last-minute captaincy change as Surya to be India's T20I captain: Report

India head coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar have spoken to Hardik Pandya and informed the all-rounder about the last-minute change in T20I captaincy as Suryakumar Yadav is set to become the new skipper, as per reports. According to news agency PTI, Gambhir and Agarkar had a word with Hardik -- who has served as India's stand-in captain in the recent past and was also the vice-captain during the 2024 T20 World Cup --that they are looking for a full-time captain, keeping in view with 2026 T20 World Cup. It is understood thatSurya is being preferredoverthe all-rounder for the latter's frequentfitness concerns, along with apoor run as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain in IPL 2024.

A senior BCCI source told PTI on the conditionof anonymity,"Hardik Pandya was India's T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T20I 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."

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The need to look for a new T20I captain came following Rohit Sharma's retirementafter India's historic 2024 T20 WC triumph in the West Indies and the USA. Even Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20Is along with Rohit.

After Hardik, Surya's name cropped up who has led Mumbai in the domestic circuit in the past. In addition, the swashbuckling batterwas also in charge of the Indian team for the home T20Is versus Australia and away series in South Africa,in late 2023.

At present, India is gearing up for thetour of Sri Lanka later this month, starting on July 27.The tour will kick off with three T20Is followed by an equal number of ODIs. The BCCI official has further confirmed thatHardik has asked for leave for the upcoming three ODIsin the island nation, citing personal reasons.

Moreover, ifRohit is unavailable for the ODI leg, KL Rahul might lead India whereas Surya can be given the reins of the T20I team, not only for the SL tourbut on a permanent basis until the next T20WC. The right-hander is India's third-highest run-getter in T20Is, with 2,340 runs in only 68 games at a strike rate of167.74 along with four 100s.