Hardik Pandya has become one of the strongest names in the race for India’s T20 captaincy following reports of Suryakumar Yadav losing the trust of BCCI and national selectors amid the ongoing IPL 2026.
With the Indian cricket team management now thinking of a fresh leadership plan for the next T20 cycle, Hardik Pandya’s name has once again come into discussion. The Indian all-rounder was part of the captaincy talks even before Suryakumar Yadav got the job.
What is BCCI thinking ahead of Suryakumar Yadav? Hardik Pandya returns in the race for captaincy
Hardik Pandya was seen as a natural white-ball leader due to his experience, aggressive mindset and ability to handle pressure situations.
Even though he is struggling in IPL 2026, Hardik is still the frontrunner to become India’s new T20 captain, with uncertainty rising over Suryakumar’s future.
Also read: Suryakumar Yadav hid wrist injury from BCCI to avoid being dropped?
According to RevSportz reporter Rohit Juglan, the selectors are reportedly discussing several options including Shreyas Iyer, but Pandya is seriously considering the top name for the role.
Hardik Pandya is in the race to become India’s next T20 captain.
PS – Now don’t say look at his IPL performance as his name is from the beginning of this discussion– Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) 8 May 2026
Hardik Pandya’s big-match flair and captaincy record makes him the top favorite for India’s T20 job
Hardik already has a strong record as captain in the shorter formats of the game and has been a part of almost every major ICC event over the years.
Under Hardik’s captaincy, Gujarat Titans won the IPL trophy in their debut season in 2022 and then reached the final in the 2023 season and also reached the Mumbai playoffs in the 2025 season. Apart from the IPL, the star all-rounder also led India in the T20I and ODI formats.
He led India to two ODI wins in three matches and 10 wins in 16 T20Is, with one game ending in a no result. Pandya has a very good temperament, especially in big matches, and apart from his all-round performances, he is also adept at handling huge pressure. These factors make them a top choice.
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Suryakumar Yadav’s downfall after becoming Indian captain
There have been reports that the Indian selectors and team management are no longer happy with Suryakumar Yadav’s poor batting form and now want a fresh start for the next T20 cycle.
Suryakumar may still be one of the most dangerous T20 batsmen in world cricket, but his numbers now raise serious questions after becoming India’s full-time captain. Before becoming the captain, he was playing fearless cricket and scoring runs almost everywhere.
Before captaincy, his average was an excellent 43.60 and his strike rate was close to 169. He had already scored 4 T20I centuries and 20 fifties during that period and was looking almost unstoppable in the shortest format. But things changed dramatically after he became the Indian captain.
Since July 2024, Surya’s average has fallen badly to 25.88, while his strike rate has also fallen to 152.03. The most surprising thing is that after becoming the full-time captain, he has not scored a single century. In 45 matches as captain, he has been able to score only 932 runs and scored only six fifties.
Another worrying sign is their performance against stronger teams. The right-handed batsman scored only 197 runs in 19 innings against England, Pakistan and South Africa, but against teams like New Zealand, Bangladesh, USA and Zimbabwe, he managed to score 392 runs in just 11 innings.
The worst spell came against England last year, where he scored 0, 12, 14, 0 and 2 in five matches and so far, he has not got his mojo back. Even though India won big tournaments including the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup under his captaincy, the selectors want to go with someone else in the next cycle.