Plotting India’s World T20 title defence: does the winning template need altering for a team in transition? Premium

India's T20I team undergoes major changes post-World Cup win, with new captain, vice-captain, and head coach leading the transition.

Only a few weeks ago, India was crowned the World T20I champion. Now it is a team in transition.

The T20I retirements of captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, coupled with the exit of Rahul Dravid as head coach after the high of lifting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados, has forced major changes.

There is a new T20I captain in Suryakumar Yadav, a new vice-captain in Shubman Gill, and a new head coach in Gautam Gambhir. The next T20 World Cup is less than two years away, and India is starting from scratch.

Suryakumar’s appointment came as a surprise, as Hardik Pandya — Rohit’s deputy at the World Cup — was expected to take charge. Hardik had a fantastic run with both bat and ball in the USA and West Indies, which strengthened his case for leadership.

It should have been the great climax of Hardik’s redemption story — from being booed during IPL 2024, to winning the World Cup and becoming the India captain. But instead, Hardik has fallen down the leadership pole, stripped of the vice-captaincy post. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar explained that Hardik’s recurrent injury troubles were to be blamed. “The biggest thing is the captain should be on the park more often than not. I mean, that’s a prerequisite,” Agarkar remarked.

While Hardik’s roller-coaster ride continues, Suryakumar has been pushed into the hot seat. Suryakumar’s credentials with the bat are beyond doubt, but as captain, he is fairly untested. The Mumbaikar led India in a five-match T20I series against Australia in November-December last year, when Hardik was out with an injury. India won the series 4-1, and Suryakumar retained leadership duties in a three-match South Africa T20I leg that followed (series tied 1-1).

Generally an all-out attacking stroke-maker, Suryakumar added nuance to his game in the World Cup when he curbed his instincts to adjust to the tough New York pitch. This ability to adapt to different situations should hold him in good stead as a leader. At 33, Suryakumar is a fairly experienced campaigner, even if the bulk of his career was spent navigating through the domestic circuit.