Ruturaj Gaikwad retained as India's vice-captain ahead of Shreyas Iyer for remainder of Australia T20Is

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been retained as vice-captain for India’s T20I series against South Africa.

India’s World Cup 2023 star Shreyas Iyer has joined the Indian cricket team for the rest of the two T20I games against Australia. Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer missed the first three T20I games against Australia in the ongoing five-match series. Shreyas Iyer is now included in the playing XI along with 3 other changes to the playing XI. Jitesh Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, and Deepak Chahar have also marked their comeback in the Indian playing XI. 

Earlier when the squad was announced for the T20I series against Australia, BCCI notified that Shreyas Iyer would join the side for the last two T20Is as vice-captain of the team, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will be Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy for the first three T20Is. Now the BCCI has retained Gaikwad as vice-captain of the team ahead of Shreyas Iyer who has joined the team and has been drafted straight into the playing XI in the fourth T20I in Raipur.

Ruturaj Gaikwad looked at as future leader

Ruturaj Gaikwad was given charge as leader in the Asian Games 2023 and India won the Gold Medal by higher seeding as rain washed out the final match against Afghanistan. This change has made BCCI’s intentions clear about the future leadership group. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have not played a single T20I after the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. With these two players away from the shortest format, Team India will be looking at new faces to groom as leaders. 

Suryakumar Yadav will be leading the side against South Africa in the upcoming three-match T20I series. Hardik Pandya is also away from the action due to injury, while Jasprit Bumrah also rested for the T20I series. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been in magnificent form with the bat as well and he scored unbeaten 123 runs in 57 balls. Gaikwad added 52 with the bat in the last three overs at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. 

Shreyas Iyer had a terrific World Cup 2023 campaign with the Indian side and scored 530 runs in 11 innings with two magnificent centuries. Iyer’s powerful knock against New Zealand in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in Mumbai was crucial for India to qualify for the final. Iyer scored 105 runs in 68 balls with 4 fours and 8 sixes. Shreyas Iyer might be looked at as a possible leadership prospect in the ODI format in the future. India will be looking to secure the series against Australia in Raipur. 

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