Suryakumar Yadav Leads India To Sri Lanka For T20I, ODI Series

India's T20I team departed for their Sri Lanka tour from Mumbai airport on Monday, July 22. This departure followed Gautam Gambhir's first press conference as head coach.

Newly-appointed T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was seen with his teammates at the airport. A video shared by ANI on their X handle showed Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube entering the airport to board their flight.

The first T20I match between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled for Saturday, July 27, in Pallekele. This game will mark the beginning of Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team. The series includes three T20Is followed by three ODIs.

#WATCH | Mumbai | Indian Men's Cricket Team arrives at the Airport, they'll leave for Sri Lanka, shortly.

Indian Cricket Team will play the ODI and T20I series, 3 matches each, against Sri Lanka, starting on July 27 and ending on August 7. pic.twitter.com/ykoL797TuO

ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2024

During a press conference on Monday morning, chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained why Suryakumar Yadav was chosen as India's new T20I captain over Hardik Pandya. Agarkar cited concerns about Hardik's fitness as a significant factor in this decision.

"Suryakumar Yadav was made the captain because he is one of the most deserving candidates. We have been getting feedback from the dressing room. He has got a great cricket brain; he is one of the best T20 batters in the world and likely to play all games," Agarkar stated.

"Hardik is a very important player. He has skillsets that are very difficult to find. Fitness has been a challenge. That was the thought behind it. We wanted someone available all the time. Surya has got the necessary quality that you need to succeed as a captain," he added.

Ajit Agarkar joined Gautam Gambhir during his press conference to discuss these decisions further. The Indian cricket team will play three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka from July 27 to August 7.

The tour marks an essential phase for both players and coaching staff as they aim to perform well in these matches. Fans eagerly await how Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team under Gambhir's guidance.