In 2015, Suryakumar Yadav’s first brush with captaincy ended controversially when he gave up the leadership of his domestic side after being reprimanded by the Mumbai Cricket Association following complaints from his team-mates that he used abusive language on the field and in the dressing room. Nearly a decade on, Suryakumar is a far more mellow character, and a hugely evolved cricketer, one of the greats of the T20 format. The timing of his elevation to India’s T20I captaincy could not feel more apt.
Suryakumar’s calmness and maturity, and his body of work as a batter, have won him several admirers, most notably the Ajit-Agarkar-led selection committee. Gambhir too was impressed by what he saw of Suryakumar during his later years at Kolkata Knight Riders, when he was elevated to vice-captaincy.
Within three years of his international debut, Suryakumar is set to take over full-time, with the team management is eyeing a two-year runway leading into India’s defence of their T20 crown at home and in Sri Lanka in 2026.
With Shubman Gill vice-captain of both white-ball squads, it’s fairly certain he and Yashasvi Jaiswal will take the places of the recently retired Rohit and Virat Kohli at the top of the order in the T20Is alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar and Hardik certainties in the middle order.
It would have seemed inconceivable after last year’s World Cup that Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul would be fighting for their places in the ODI middle order ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. But it’s a reality they may have to contend with if the selectors deem Pant to be the first-choice keeper, which Rahul was when Pant was recovering from the injuries he sustained in a car crash in December 2022.
Rohit, Gill and Kohli pick themselves at the top of the order. Assuming Hardik, who has opted for a break from the Sri Lanka ODIs, is a certainty if fully fit, there’s room for only two of Pant, Iyer and Rahul in the middle order, which means they could all be auditioning for these two spots during the ODIs in Sri Lanka. It’s possible only two may play in this series too, if India want a batting allrounder such as Parag or Dube in the top six.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are India’s top three fast bowlers across formats. But with the focus likely to shift to Test cricket after this tour – India play five home Tests and five in Australia from September to January – Gambhir is keen to ensure that workloads are managed carefully. It’s in line with this principle that Bumrah has been rested for the Sri Lanka tour, while Shami is building his way back to full fitness after a long injury break.
Then there ere are the likes of Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan (both not picked) and Mayank Yadav (who is on the mend from multiple injuries), who will have the upcoming domestic season beginning with the Duleep Trophy on September 5 to make their cases.