New Delhi, 16 July

The big-hitting Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as the dark horse to become India's T20 captain till the 2026 World Cup and might just pip top contender Hardik Pandya, whose elevation from the vice-captain's position was being seen as a natural progression up until now.

Pandya made himself available for the shortest format games against Sri Lanka this month but it has emerged that Suryakumar, who captained India in eight T20Is against Australia and South Africa last year, is the preferred choice of new head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. It is learnt that both Gambhir and Agarkar spoke to Pandya about this change of plan earlier on Tuesday evening and explained to him that a long-term option was being finalised to ensure stability.

The T20 leadership role fell vacant after Rohit Sharma bid adieu to his international career in the shortest format following India's World Cup triumph last month in the West Indies.

Pandya, one of the heroes of that victory, will take a break during the three-match ODI series against the island nation due to "personal reasons". The T20Is against Sri Lanka will run from 27 to 30 July in Pallekele, followed by the ODIs from 2 to 7 August in Colombo. The squad for the series is expected to be announced in the next couple of days.

"Hardik Pandya was India's T2O vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T20I series and was supposed to lead the side but there is a very strong feeling that SKY would be the potential leader not only for the Sri Lanka series but till the 2026 World Cup," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. "Hardik's break from ODIs is for very personal reasons. He doesn't have any fitness issue as is being suggested in the media," the official said.

The 33-year-old Suryakumar is believed to be one of the most popular players in the Indian dressing room. It was under Gambhir's captaincy at the Kolkata Knight Riders that he made a name for himself as a T20 player and got nicknamed 'SKY' by the then skipper.

Hardik was seen as an obvious successor to Rohit but multiple factors have come into play. His performance as Mumbai Indians skipper was underwhelming and the selectors are in no mood to let him pick and choose his assignments.

The selectors won't mind seeing him play Vijay Hazare Trophy this season to get some 50-over practice. About the ODIs, the official confirmed that Pandya has asked for leave and has already communicated this to Rohit, who is also taking a break from this series.

For the ODIs, KL Rahul, who led in the last series in South Africa, and Gill are in contention for the leadership role.

Thrust on domestic availability

BCCI secretary Jay Shah has made it clear that even star cricketers must make themselves available for domestic engagements when they are free from national duty. But exceptions will be made for the likes of Rohit, Virat Kohli and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

The BCCI would, however, want all the other Test specialists to play at least one if not a couple of Duleep Trophy games in August as a precursor to the Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. "This time there is no zonal selection committee for Duleep Trophy. Only national selection committee will pick Duleep teams. "All Test team contenders will be picked. For Rohit, Virat and Bumrah, it will be their choice if they want to play or not," the source added.