3 players who can captain India in T20I series against Australia in November ft. Suryakumar Yadav
India will face Australia in a five-match T20I series shortly after the 2023 World Cup concludes. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are likely to miss the series, as they will be rested post-World Cup.
Hardik Pandya, who is currently nursing an injury, is also unlikely to make the squad. Jasprit Bumrah has returned from a lengthy time out on the sidelines not too long ago. It will make sense to give the team's premier fast bowler some well-deserved rest after the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Australia announced their squad for the series yesterday, October 28. Matthew Wade will lead the side. The squad is quite different from the current ODI World Cup squad.
The entire Australian squad is as follows:
The Indian squad for the T20I series is going to be announced next week. A lot of chopping and changing is expected as many players will be rested after the World Cup exertions.
On that note, here are three players who could lead the Men in Blue in the absence of the likes of Rohit and Hardik.
#1 Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav will be one of the few survivors from the Indian ODI World Cup squad to be named in the T20I squad against Australia. He hasn't played much in the ongoing tournament but could be a regular feature going forward if Pandya remains unavailable.
The Mumbai batter is a T20 specialist and has some captaincy experience in the domestic circuit. Currently ranked No. 1 in the T20I batting rankings, Suryakumar Yadav will be a shoo-in for the Australia series, even if he plays the remainder of the World Cup.
#2 Axar Patel
Axar Patel was initially named in the 2023 World Cup squad. However, he suffered a quadricep tear against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, which is why he was ruled out of the World Cup. He is close to full fitness and should make it to the T20I squad.
The all-rounder has been a consistent performer in all three formats. Perhaps unlucky to be playing in the same era as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, the left-arm spinner will be eager to leave his mark against Australia next month. There's also a decent chance that he will be named the captain.
#3 Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson's selection in the Indian squad has always sparked debate among cricket fans and experts alike. With Rishabh Pant out injured and KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan both in the World Cup squad, it is likely that the Kerala wicketkeeper will be one of the first names in the T20I squad against Australia.
The Rajasthan Royals skipper, like Suryakumar and Axar, has never captained India before. However, with a lot of senior players expected to be omitted from the squad, he could be a captaincy option. His leadership experience in the IPL could give him the edge over someone like Axar.