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.

Injured Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc has indicated he will most certainly miss the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against India at Nagpur from February 9, saying he should be available from the second Test onwards. Starc suffered an injury on the opening day of the Boxing day Test against South Africa, hurting the finger of his bowling arm while attempting a catch.

The 32-year-old Starc was diagnosed with a detached tendon in the middle finger and missed the third and final Test against the Proteas at Sydney. “That’s probably likely (I will miss the first Test). We’ll see how we’re placed at the end of the month,”. Starc was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press on Monday. “Travis Head, Marnus (Labuschagne), Smudge (Steve Smith). They all come into it a bit more. Generally if you’re picking two spinners you’re not expecting it to be a long game,” added Cummins.

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Mitchell Starc would miss the first test against India

“Hopefully I am there for the second Test if they want to play me. We’ll see how the finger is.” With all-rounder Cameron Green also not a certainty for the opening Test due to a fractured finger he suffered during the MCG game after being hit by an Anrich Nortje bouncer, Australia are left short of pace bowling back-up. However, Josh Hazlewood will most likely play the Nagpur game – his second Test in Asia since 2017. Hazlewood was in fine form during the third Test against the Proteas in Sydney where he claimed four first-innings wickets, forcing the tourists to follow on.

But weather played spoilsport and the match ended in a draw. Test skipper Pat Cummins too gave his verdict on Hazlewood, saying he is a certainty for the Nagpur Test. “No qualms picking (Hazlewood), you know what you’re going to get and it is quality,” said Cummins on Monday. “Getting four or five wickets on that (Sydney) wicket. Every time he (Hazlewood) bowled he looked threatening.” Last year’s Ashes hero Scott Boland too could be in contention for a possible third pacer’s slot with Green too doubtful.