The Indian cricket team is all set to begin the Sri Lanka tour. A heart-melting moment captured the attention of fans when SuryaKumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya hugged each other. The warm embrace between Hardik and Suryakumar has effectively terminated any speculation about a rift between the two, who were recently in contention for the Indian T20I captaincy.
The battle for the T20I captaincy was intense, with both Pandya and Yadav emerging as strong contenders. Ultimately, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to entrust the role to Suryakumar Yadav. While this decision was met with mixed reactions, it was the potential impact on the dynamics within the team that raised eyebrows.
Also Read: “Gautam Gambhir not important”, India’s new head coach makes bold statement
However, the recent display of brotherhood between Pandya and Yadav has put all those concerns to end. In a video shared by the BCCI, the duo is seen sharing a warm hug, a gesture that speaks volumes about the camaraderie and respect they share for each other.
Watch Hardik-Surya hug :
https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1815441272708231483
The selection committee, led by former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar, justified the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as captain, citing his exceptional batting form, cricketing brain, and feedback from the dressing room. Agarkar also hinted at fitness being a crucial factor in the selection process.
“Why Surya was made captain? Because he is one of the deserving candidates. The one we know has been around the dressing room over the last one year. You get feedback from the dressing room a lot. He (Surya) has got a good cricketing brain and he is still one of the best T20 batters in the world,” Agarkar explained.
He further added, “You want a captain that’s going to be more likely to play all the games. We think he (Surya) is a deserving candidate and hopefully we’ll see over time how he develops into the role.”
Suryakumar Yadav has been bestowed with the captaincy, but the selection committee was quick to bring attention to the importance of Hardik Pandya to the team.
“In regards to Hardik, 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,” said Agarkar.
With the captaincy issue seemingly resolved and the team united, India will be looking to make a strong start to their tour of Sri Lanka. The first T20I is scheduled for July 27, followed by a three-match ODI series.
The Surya-Hardik hug has undoubtedly lifted the spirits of Indian cricket fans, and it is now up to the team to translate this positive energy into on-field performances.
Related posts:
