Indian cricket all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently had the leadership role in T20 cricket taken away from him, despite it seeming like a natural progression after Rohit Sharma’s retirement. The new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, with input from chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, decided to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain, with Shubman Gill as his deputy. This decision didn’t come as a surprise to Ashish Nehra, who previously coached Hardik during his captaincy at Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.
Although Hardik and Nehra enjoyed success at Gujarat Titans, reaching two IPL finals and winning one, it seems that Gambhir has a different vision for the Indian team moving forward, where Hardik is not part of his plans as a captain or vice-captain.
“I am not surprised by this decision. In cricket, these changes are normal. Every coach and captain have their own ideas. Gambhir’s vision for the team at the moment is different,” Nehra stated in an interview with Sports Tak.
Agarkar cited fitness as the main reason for the captaincy change for Hardik, a decision that Nehra agreed with. “Hardik Pandya will continue to be an important player in white-ball cricket for India. He brings a unique balance to the side and is a key impact player,” Nehra acknowledged.
Nehra also praised the appointment of Shubman Gill as vice-captain across all formats, noting that the young batsman is still developing as a leader. “Gill is a work in progress, but his willingness to learn and grow sets him apart,” Nehra added.
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