In the forthcoming five-match T20I series against Australia, Indian middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav is poised to lead the team, stepping in for the injured Hardik Pandya, who was initially slated to captain the side in the series.

The decision comes four days after the ICC World Cup 2023 Final, with the Indian team hosting Australia in a T20I series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is anticipated to opt for second-string players, resting most of the World Cup squad members.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Captaincy Debut: Filling the Void Left by Pandya’s Injury

Suryakumar Yadav is set to make his debut as the captain of the national team, as reported by the Indian Express. Serving as the vice-captain during India’s West Indies tour, Yadav assumes leadership in the absence of Hardik Pandya, who continues to recover from an ankle injury sustained in the opening World Cup match against Bangladesh.

The BCCI’s senior national selection committee is gearing up to announce the squad for the upcoming T20 series. Suryakumar Yadav, with previous captaincy experience leading the Mumbai team in domestic cricket and the India Under-23 team in the Emerging Cup, is expected to take charge.

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Despite Hardik Pandya’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to be retained from the Indian ODI World Cup squad for the T20I series against Australia. The seasoned 33-year-old has an impressive track record in T20Is, having represented India in 53 matches, accumulating 1841 runs at an average of 46.02 and an outstanding strike rate of 172.7, including three centuries and 15 fifties.

The T20I series against Australia is scheduled to kick off on November 23 in Visakhapatnam, followed by matches in Thiruvananthapuram on November 26, Guwahati on November 28, Nagpur on December 1, and the final match in Hyderabad on December 3.