'He will keep the atmosphere cool': Axar Patel praises new T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav ahead of SL tour

It will be the start of a new era in Indian cricket during the upcoming Sri Lanka tour as the Men in Blue will have a new T20I captain with Suryakumar Yadav all set to don the captain’s armband.Having been announced as the new skipper on Thursday (July 18), all-rounder Axar Patel heaped praises on Suryakumar Yadav for his mentality and the positive atmosphere he offers. According to Axar, he will keep the atmosphere in the dressing room cool.

Axar Patel full of praise for Suryakumar Yadav

"I have spent a lot of time with Suryakumar. Surya bhai is a happy-go-lucky guy. He keeps the atmosphere lively, loves doing mimicry and such fun stuff. I know he will keep the atmosphere cool," said Axar while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

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"I recently played a five-game T20I series when he was the captain. I know he is a bowler's captain. He gives the bowlers the fields they ask for. And it was like that with me, too. I don't think there will be a lot of change," he added.

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Suryakumar was given the captain’s armband instead ofHardik Pandya who was India’s vice-captain during the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. Surya was backed by new head coach Gautam Gambhir to wear the captain’s armband having reportedly questioned Hardik’s fitness who was dropped from the ODI series.

India will start a new era without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the T20I format when they face Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series which starts on Saturday (July 27).

Interestingly, despite being part of the T20 squad as captain, Surya won’t be part of the ODI series where Rohit Sharma will return in the captain’s role. Axar, however, will be part of both ODI and T20I set-up.