IND vs SL: Hardik Pandya takes charge as skipper in T20Is

IND vs SL: India's star allrounder Hardik Pandya will lead Indian team in three match T20I series against Sri Lanka. 'Men in Blue' will travell to Sri Lanka for T20I and ODI series. However, Hardik skipped the ODI series

The T20I series will kickstart on July 27, with subsequent matches on July 29 and July 30 in Pallekele. Following the T20Is, Hardik Pandya will take a break from the ODI series scheduled from August 2 to 7.

Pandya's new role as captain

According to PTI, "Hardik Pandya was India's T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T20I series and will lead the side." Pandya, who played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup victory in the Caribbean last month, will now step up as captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the T20 format.

Pandya was instrumental in India’s triumph over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final. With Rohit Sharma stepping down from the T20 captaincy, Pandya’s promotion to lead the team is imminent. 

Changes in vice-captaincy

In the recent 4-1 series win over Zimbabwe, Pandya was rested, and the team was led by Shubman Gill. Gill, along with Suryakumar Yadav, who led the T20I team in South Africa last year, are strong contenders for the vice-captaincy.

Hardik doesn’t have any fitness issue

Pandya has already informed the BCCI and the regular ODI captain of his intention to take a break from the upcoming ODI series. "The break from ODIs is for very personal reasons. Hardik doesn’t have any fitness issue as is being floated in the media," an BCCI official told PTI.

Rohit Sharma’s absence in ODI

Rohit Sharma has also requested to be excused from the ODI series, leaving KL Rahul, who has experience leading the ODI team in South Africa, and Shubman Gill in the running for the captaincy.

The BCCI aims to have all top cricketers, except Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, participate in the Duleep Trophy in August before the series against Bangladesh.