SKY really is the limit

Hardik Pandya departed the Caribbean, drenched in the glory of India's first ICC tournament triumph in 11 years, however, little did he know his world would turn upside down within a mere three weeks. The upcoming Sri Lanka series isn't very crucial, but the recent seismic changes inside the dressing room certainly make it look like one.

In fact, the resounding vote of 'no confidence' in Pandya's leadership prowess was so blatant that it has positioned the Baroda all-rounder to confront a big question on his captaincy future, sparked by one of the most sensational twists in Indian cricket, not to forget how he himself controversially replaced Mumbai Indians' beloved former captain Rohit Sharma last season.

The only positive takeaway is Pandya can now play to his full potential without worrying about the challenges that come with leading a side.

Besides, Monday's press conference did make things clear about why the selection committee gave Suryakumar Yadav the green light at last.

Pandya was Rohit's deputy during India's T20 World Cup triumph last month but he has suffered from fitness problems and missed the 50-over World Cup last year with an ankle injury. "Fitness has been something that he's struggled with," Agarkar told reporters alongside new coach Gautam Gambhir. "As selectors, it becomes difficult then. The thought behind it was that we want someone who is likely to be available more."

To date, Suryakumar has led India in seven T20 internationals during the Nov-Dec 2023 series in Australia and South Africa. Beyond his captaincy role, his current rank among top batters in men's T20Is has emerged as a standout factor. Having amassed over 2,000 runs in T20Is, which include four centuries, at an impressive average of 43.33 and a striking strike rate of 167.74, the 33-year-old is a seasoned campaigner in the shortest format of the game.

In addition to his brief tenure as India's T20 captain, Suryakumar has also captained Mumbai in the prestigious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's premier domestic T20 competition. Moreover, he led Team Mumbai in a single match during the 2023 Indian T20 League season.

Suryakumar Yadav's detailed captaincy record

Last year, with Suryakumar at the helm, India clinched the Australia series against Australia convincingly, sealing it with a commanding 4-1 margin, during which the 33-year-old also emerged as the second-highest run-scorer. Subsequently, leading India in the T20I series against South Africa, he ensured a competitive performance with the series ending in a 1-1 draw and one match being abandoned. His pivotal contribution came in the form of a brilliant century, scoring 100 runs off 56 balls and leading India to victory.

Overall, Suryakumar has captained India in seven T20Is, securing victories in five matches while losing two. He has amassed 300 runs from seven innings at an impressive average of 42.86 and a strike rate of 164.84.

In domestic T20 cricket, he has captained Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy across two seasons in 2019 and 2021. He debuted as captain against Mizoram in November 2019 at the age of 29, leading his home team to a resounding ten-wicket victory.

During his tenure as the captain for 16 matches, Mumbai emerged victorious in ten matches, with Suryakumar himself scoring 467 runs at an average of 38.92 and a strike rate of 165.60. Additionally, he captained Team Mumbai in a solitary match against Kolkata in the 2023 IPL, contributing significantly with 43 runs in a successful chase that ended in a five-wicket win for Mumbai.