"Hardik couldn't really gain the respect of everyone around him" - Former Sri Lankan batter on Indian all-rounder's T20I captaincy snub

Former Sri Lankan batter Russel Arnold feels the IPL 2024 had a massive role in Hardik Pandya's snubbing as India's T20I captain. Hardik led the Indian T20I side in the absence of Rohit Sharma last year until his injury during the ODI World Cup.

He was also the deputy to Rohit during India's victorious title run in the recent T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Yet, the management handed over the captaincy reigns in the shortest format to Suryakumar Yadav after Rohit's T20I retirement.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated fitness as the reason for picking Suryakumar over Hardik as India's next T20I skipper.

However, in a conversation with Sports Tak ahead of the India-Sri Lanka white-ball series, Arnold feels the decision was made out of Hardik's struggles to earn the respect of the dressing room during IPL 2024.

"Well, both are exceptional players. They bring different things to the party. Suryakumar Yadav is probably one of the better T20 batters going around and the way he plays it, he obviously has to see and read the game like no one else. Hardik has also shown that. But I reckon with how the IPL went and whereas Hardik couldn't really gain the respect of everyone around him, might have prompted BCCI to look in a different direction," Arnold said.

He added:

"It's about getting everyone to gel and keeping everyone calm and happy so that you can pull in the one direction. I'm not saying that wouldn't have happened under Hardik, but I guess, at this particular moment, it was a good opportunity and it's a great opportunity for Suryakumar to showcase what he can do and make it his own."

Hardik Pandya took over the Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy role from long-time skipper Rohit Sharma before the 2024 IPL season. However, he failed to cope with the massive expectations and the negative crowd response, as MI finished at the bottom of the points table with only four wins in 14 outings.

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"We want someone who's likely to be available more often than not" - Ajit Agarkar

India v Bangladesh - ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 - Source: Getty

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar validated the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain over Hardik Pandya by pointing to the latter's fitness issues.

The star all-rounder has suffered several injuries in his international career, including an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup.

While addressing reporters after India's squad selection for the Sri Lankan tour, Agarkar said:

"But in regards to Hardik (Pandya), he's still a very important player for us and that's what we want him to be that player that he can be because those sorts of skill sets are very difficult to find what he has. Fitness, obviously, has been a challenge for him over the last few years and then it becomes a little bit more difficult for him and even as selectors. The fitness is a clear challenge and we want someone who's likely to be available more often than not."

Team India will play the first of three T20Is against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on July 27. The T20Is will be followed by three ODIs from August 2 to 7.