Suryakumar Yadav assures Hardik Pandya remains key to India’s T20I leadership despite Axar Patel’s promotion

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has assured that Hardik Pandya remains an integral part of the team’s leadership group despite a recent shift in the hierarchy that saw Axar Patel elevated to vice-captain. Speaking ahead of the first T20I against England, Suryakumar clarified that his relationship with Hardik remains strong and collaborative.

Suryakumar emphasized the importance of collective decision-making within the team, stating that Hardik is “always around” in strategic discussions. “The relationship with him has been really great. We’ve been playing together for a really long time,” Suryakumar said, recalling their bond that began with the Mumbai Indians in 2018.

The Indian skipper explained that the leadership structure now accommodates multiple voices, ensuring a cohesive approach on and off the field. “Hardik is part of the leading group. When we sit, we decide what we want to do with the team going forward. Even on the field, he is always around. We have a lot of captains on the ground,” he added.

The decision to elevate Axar Patel to vice-captain came after his standout performances in India’s successful T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in Barbados. Suryakumar acknowledged Axar’s contributions, stating that his leadership potential and consistency earned him the added responsibility.

“Axar has been given that added responsibility. We saw what he did in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and he’s been with the team for a very long time,” Suryakumar noted. He added that Axar’s ability to perform under pressure made him a natural choice for the role.

Suryakumar also reflected on how his role as captain allows him to take a more active leadership stance while giving players like Hardik the space to focus on their game. “The added responsibility is something I embrace. But when we go back to franchise cricket, I can step back, be quiet, and relax for a little bit,” he said.

India squad for the T20I series against England: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).