Why Ashish Nehra isn't surprised with Hardik Pandya's T20I captaincy snub?

Hardik Pandya was India’s vice-captain at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said that he isn’t surprised by the Indian selectors and management’s decision to not name Hardik Pandya as India’s new T20I captain, admitting that Hardik’s fitness and workload concerns went against him.

Hardik had been the vice-captain of the Indian white-ball teams over the past couple of years. He was Rohit Sharma’s deputy during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where he played a crucial role as an all-rounder. He had led India in several white-ball games whenever Rohit was either rested or injured.

However, he wasn’t elevated to the captaincy position after Rohit retired from T20Is. Instead, the selectors and new head coach Gautam Gambhir went with Suryakumar Yadav.

Shubman Gill has been named the vice-captain of both the ODI and T20Is sides for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that Hardik Pandya’s fitness challenges in the last few years meant he couldn’t play all the matches. Hence, appointing him as a full-time captain was extremely difficult.

Hardik Pandya will remain a very, very important player for Indian cricket: Ashish Nehra

Nehra, who worked for two Indian Premier League seasons with Hardik, believes the all-rounder’s fitness is vital for Indian cricket.

The Gujarat Titans coach said that the decision of Agarkar and Gambhir is understandable and justifiable.

“No, I am not surprised. When it comes to cricket, these things keep happening. Yes, Hardik Pandya was vice-captain in the World Cup, but at the same time, there is a new coach who has come in. Every coach and every captain have different thoughts. At this time, his (Gambhir’s) ideas are toward that direction,” Nehra told SportsTak.

“I think Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir have made it clear, that’s good. He is playing one format, 50-over also, he is playing less. Hardik Pandya, in white-ball cricket, will remain a very, very important player for Indian cricket. When you have him, you can have 4 fast bowlers, he brings in a different balance to the side and keep in mind, that there’s no impact player in international cricket,” Nehra concluded.

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