Hardik Pandya captaincy snub: Russell Arnold explains IPL 2024 role in decision
Russell Arnold feels that Hardik Pandya’s time as MI skipper during IPL 2024 may have played a role in him losing the India T20I captaincy ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.
Former Sri Lanka batter Russell Arnold feels that the IPL 2024 had a big role to play in Hardik Pandya being snubbed for the captaincy job for the Indian team in white-ball cricket ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. Hardik was the vice-captain for the Indian team during the T20 World Cup 2024 under Rohit Sharma and had also led the team in the shortest format of the game. It was expected that the all-rounder would take over from Rohit as the T20I captain and continue as the vice-captain of the ODI side.
However, the BCCI decided to go with Suryakumar Yadav as the skipper of the T20I team while giving the vice-captaincy in the white-ball format to Shubman Gill. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained the call and felt that Hardik’s fitness played a role in the decision. However, Arnold doesn’t feel that’s the only reason.
He didn’t gain respect of everyone around
Speaking to India Today’s sister channel, Sports Tak, in an interaction, the Sri Lanka legend said that both Hardik and Suryakumar are exceptional players. However, Arnold felt that during IPL 2024, Hardik struggled to gain the respect of everyone around him and this may have prompted the BCCI to look in a different direction.
