Hardik Pandya is set to be rested for the series to manage his workload
With the 50-over World Cup just a few months away Hardik Pandya is set to be rested for the T20I series against Ireland to manage his workload before the marquee event. Sur Kumar Yadav who is the deputy of Hardik Pandya in T20Is is likely to captain India in the absence of the all-rounder. India is scheduled to play three T20Is against Ireland in Ireland in August. Hardik Pandya was originally scheduled to lead India in the three-match T20I series but with a busy cricket calendar ahead the BCCI has decided to rest the all-rounder for the series to keep him fresh for the Asia Cup and the World Cup in India later this month. It provides an opportunity for Surya Kumar Yadav to show his credentials as a captain as he will be leading the Indian team for the first time in his international career. Surya has been the deputy of Hardik Pandya since he was appointed the captain of the Indian T20 side in the absence of Rohit at the start of the year for the series against Sri Lanka which was followed by a three-match T20I series against Ireland.
The Journey
Hardik Pandya was the captain of India when the team toured Ireland last year in June. It was a good start for Pandya as a captain as he led the side to a 2-0 series win in as many matches against Ireland. The third instance of Hardik leading the side came in the final match of the five-match T20I series against West Indies which India won 4-1. Pandya has been the captain of the Indian T20 team since India’s semifinal exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
What they said
Reacting to the development a BCCI source said “Nothing is finalised yet and it will be also depend on how Hardik is feeling after one-dayers and T20s in the West Indies. There is travelling involved and only a short turnaround of three days before one flies from Florida to Dublin. With the World Cup being of primary importance, one has to factor in his workload. Let’s not forget he will be Rohit’s deputy in the World Cup,”
