‘Ab dobara 5-6 new captain banenge’ – Fans react as Suryakumar Yadav or Ruturaj Gaikwad in contention for India’s captaincy in T20I series against Australia

The Indian Cricket team have been delivering an exceptional performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, securing victory in all eight of their matches thus far. They stand as the sole undefeated team in the tournament and are poised to clinch the top spot in the points table. Their upcoming semi-final opponent will be determined by the team that finishes fourth in the standings.

Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the ODI World Cup, the Men in Blue will face Australia for the 5-match T20I series at home. And for the series, many senior players are likely to be rested due to which Suryakumar Yadav and Ruturaj Gaikwad have emerged as front-runners for the captaincy role in the upcoming series. 

This development comes in the absence of India’s regular T20I captain and star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, who ruled himself out during the ongoing ODI World Cup. Suryakumar, known for his explosive batting and consistency in the shortest format of the game, has not yet had the opportunity to lead the Indian cricket team but is likely to get the opportunity as he is the no. 1 ranked T20I batter in the world currently. 

Rahul Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach is set to be finished after ODI World Cup 2023

On the other hand, Ruturaj recently led the team to a gold medal victory at the Asian Games, showcasing his leadership skills and potential as a captain. Reports have also surfaced suggesting that the NCA (National Cricket Academy) head and former legendary Indian cricketer, VVS Laxman, may serve as the head coach in the absence of Rahul Dravid as his tenure as India’s head coach is set to conclude after the ODI World Cup in 2023.

The 5-match T20I series is scheduled to kick off in Visakhapatnam on November 23, with the fifth and final match to be played in Hyderabad on December 3. While the Indian Cricket Board is yet to officially announce the team for the series, it is expected to feature exciting young talents like Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and more.

Sanju Samson, who missed out on India’s ODI World Cup campaign, is reportedly set to make a return to the T20I squad against Australia. However, the biggest question looming over the series is who will be appointed as the captain – Suryakumar or Ruturaj.

Here’s how fans reacted: