Ajit Agarkar explains why Hardik Pandya was denied India’s T20I captaincy

Ajit Agarkar, chairman of selectors for the BCCI, has explained the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as India’s new T20I captain over Hardik Pandya. Fitness challenges and availability were key factors in this decision.

In Short

• Hardik Pandya is very important player, but fitness is clearly one challenge: Ajit Agarkar
• Suryakumar Yadav appointed as India’s new T20I captain over Hardik Pandya
• Hardik’s fitness issues influenced the decision despite his leadership experience

BCCI’s chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, explained the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as India’s new T20I captain over Hardik Pandya. Agarkar emphasized that while Hardik remains a crucial player for the team, his fitness challenges influenced the decision. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently named Suryakumar Yadav as the new captain of the T20I team, with an eye on the 2026 T20 World Cup. The top-ranked T20I batter was chosen over Hardik Pandya to succeed Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format following India’s T20 World Cup victory last month in Barbados.