Team India’s newly appointed T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has been excluded from the ODI squad, as confirmed by BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar stated that Yadav’s name was not considered for the ODI team due to the return of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant.
Despite being part of India’s 2023 ODI World Cup squad, Yadav’s position in the ODI pecking order has diminished. Former India batter Aakash Chopra predicts that Yadav will also miss out on the Champions Trophy next year, as he is not included in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Chopra believes that Yadav’s exclusion from the ODI team indicates that he is currently not being considered for the 50-over format. He suggests that Yadav’s focus will be solely on T20Is.
In contrast, Chopra expects Shubman Gill to be a part of India’s Champions Trophy team, given his appointment as ODI vice-captain. Agarkar has praised Gill’s three-format potential and his leadership qualities, which were evident during his captaincy in the IPL and against Zimbabwe.
The BCCI’s decision to exclude Yadav from the ODI team has sparked discussions about the future of the Indian ODI squad. With the likes of Rahul, Iyer, and Pant returning, the competition for places in the middle order has intensified. It remains to be seen whether Yadav can regain his place in the ODI team or if he will continue to focus on T20Is.
