"Want someone who is likely to be available more often than not" - Ajit Agarkar on Hardik Pandya missing out on India's T20I captaincy

Team India's chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar recently revealed the reason behind Hardik Pandya missing out on the T20I captaincy. He mentioned that the all-rounder's fitness concerns led the team management to look in another direction.

Agarkar emphasized that Hardik has been pivotal for India in white-ball cricket. He pointed out that with there being a lot of time ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the think tank can try out a few things to see what works the best.

The 46-year-old made these remarks during a joint press conference with India's new head coach Gautam Gambhir in Mumbai on Monday, July 22. Agarkar said:

"He (Hardik) is still a very important player for us and we want him to be the player that he can be because those sorts of skill sets are very difficult to find. Fitness has been a challenge for him over the last few years, and then it becomes a bit more difficult for a coach or even us, the selector"s.

"Now we have got a bit more time till the next T20 World Cup where we can look at a few things. It is not rushed at the moment. He is an important player for us and performances are more important. That was the thought behind it. Fitness is a clear challenge and we want someone who is likely to be available more often than not."

Hardik Pandya was seen by many as the frontrunner for India's T20I captaincy after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format following the team's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. Hardik was the vice-captain in the Men in Blue's title-winning campaign.

However, the Indian team management roped in Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20I skipper ahead of the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka. Hardik also lost his vice-captaincy, as Shubman Gill was named as Suryakumar's deputy.

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"We have been around the group over the last year, and get feedback from the dressing room a lot" - Ajit Agarkar on Suryakumar Yadav's appointment

Speaking about handing India's T20I captaincy reins to Suryakumar Yadav, Ajit Agarkar suggested that the decision was made based on the feedback received from the dressing room.

The former pacer highlighted that Suryakumar has done exceptionally well as a batter for India in the 20-over format. Stating that the dynamic batter was a deserving candidate for captaincy, Agarkar commented (as per the aforementioned source):

"Suryakumar Yadav was made the captain because he is one of the most deserving candidates. We know, we have been around the group over the last year, and get feedback from the dressing room a lot. He has got a great cricket brain and he is one of the best T20 batters in the world. One of the main issues, obviously, was you want a captain that's likely to play all the games. We think he is a deserving candidate and hopefully, we will see over time how he develops into the role."

Suryakumar Yadav was India's stand-in captain for two T20I series in late 2023. Under his leadership, India clinched a 4-1 series win at home over Australia. He also led the team in an away-from-home T20I series against South Africa.

The first encounter was washed out due to rain and the series ended in a 1-1 draw. His stint as India's full-time T20I skipper will begin with a three-match series against Sri Lanka. The series opener will be played at Pallekele on Saturday, July 27.