Gautam Gambhir, now India’s head coach, made a notable move by appointing Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20 captain, replacing Hardik Pandya, who had seemed the likely successor after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20 internationals. This six-match white-ball series against Sri Lanka holds significant importance for Gambhir, aligning with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar in their decision to position Suryakumar as captain with an eye on the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The series serves as a key preparatory phase leading up to that event.

The first T20I is scheduled for July 27, with additional matches on July 28 and 30, all to be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The ODIs will take place on August 2, 4, and 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

It was under Gambhir’s captaincy at Kolkata Knight Riders that Suryakumar Yadav, affectionately known as ‘SKY,’ first garnered attention for his exceptional finishing abilities, a talent Gambhir frequently praised.

Leadership Shift: Pandya’s injury struggles and Gill’s rise as Vice-Captain

Pandya, the vice-captain of the T20 World Cup-winning team and the bowler of the historic last over in the final against South Africa, was informed of the decision on Tuesday by both Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir.

Previously, Pandya served as vice-captain in the 50-over World Cup before his injury. With Shubman Gill now appointed as deputy in both formats, it’s evident that the selection committee and Gambhir are shifting their focus away from Pandya for leadership roles.

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Pandya’s frequent injury issues were a significant factor against him. He participated in only 46 of the 79 T20I matches since January 1, 2022, while Suryakumar Yadav missed only a few games during this time, primarily due to sports hernia surgery.

Pandya did lead India to a 4-1 victory over Australia in a T20I series last November and secured a 1-1 draw in South Africa. Despite this, Pandya remains part of the T20 squad but has opted out of ODIs due to personal reasons.