Hardik Pandya Hugs Abhishek Nayar as Team India Departs for Sri Lanka: Watch the Heartwarming Moment
As Team India prepares for their upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, they were seen in high spirits at the airport. The series, starting on July 27, will feature three T20Is followed by three ODIs beginning on August 2. Suryakumar Yadav, recently appointed captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20Is, will lead the team. This decision surprised many fans who expected all-rounder Hardik Pandya to take on the leadership role.
On Monday, India’s T20I squad left for Sri Lanka, and an emotional moment was captured at the airport when Hardik Pandya shared a heartfelt hug with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar.
Watch: Indian Men’s Cricket Team Leaves for Sri Lanka
Hardik Pandya, who was replaced by Shubman Gill as vice-captain for the tour, is navigating a challenging period both professionally and personally, having recently separated from his wife, Natasa Stankovic. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that Suryakumar Yadav was chosen as captain due to concerns about Hardik’s fitness.
“He’s still a very important player for us. Fitness has obviously been a challenge for him… Then it becomes difficult for the coach or selectors. Fitness is a clear challenge, and we want someone who is available more often than not. Having said that, we believe Surya has the qualities necessary to be a captain,” said Agarkar during a press conference.
Agarkar also mentioned the importance of managing Hardik’s fitness carefully, given his critical contributions in previous tournaments.
This series will also be significant as it marks Gautam Gambhir’s debut as head coach of the Indian team. He will be supported by his Kolkata Knight Riders colleagues Abhishek Nayar and Ryan Ten Doeschate.
“I have worked closely with Abhishek and Ryan in the last two months at IPL with KKR. Both are absolute professionals and hopefully, they will have a successful stint with the Indian team as coaches,” stated Gambhir.
Stay tuned for more updates on Team India’s journey in Sri Lanka!
Watch the video of Team India’s departure here.
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