The 33-year-old took over the reins from the beloved Rohit Sharma, who stepped down from the 20-over format following India’s triumphant World Cup campaign in June.
Despite competition from all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar secured the captaincy role, with concerns over Pandya’s recurring injury absences playing a factor in the decision.
However, Suryakumar’s past leadership experience with the Mumbai state team had raised eyebrows, as complaints from his teammates led to his dismissal in 2015.
“Lot of things have changed since then. I am a different person now,” AFP quoted Suryakumar as saying to reporters in Kandy ahead of Saturday’s series opener.
“I have got married and I have learned a lot from other captains. I will take the team forward in my own style,” he added.
“Our brand of cricket remains the same. What the captaincy has done is it has given me new responsibility and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Virat Kohli, a top-performing batsman, stepped down from his position following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. India’s team, consisting of 15 players, will allow Suryakumar to try out different strategies with the top order, which is supported by opening batsmen Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Sri Lanka is also under new leadership in the short format after a disappointing early elimination from the World Cup, which led to Wanindu Hasaranga‘s resignation just half a year after he was appointed.
Charith Asalanka, who has taken over as captain, led the Jaffna Kings to victory in the Lanka Premier League tournament, a 20-over competition, on Sunday.
“It’s a huge challenge for us to play the world champions. We are ready for the challenge as we prepared well for this series,” Asalanka said.
“Bit disappointed that we are not at full strength,” he added, saying that injury and illness had hurt the team’s pace strength.
Sri Lanka’s fast bowling lineup has been hit with setbacks as Nuwan Thushara suffered a thumb fracture, rendering him unavailable for the remainder of the series. Additionally, Dushmantha Chameera is currently ill and unable to participate.
To fill the void left by these absences, the Sri Lankan team has called up Asitha Fernando, a right-arm seam bowler, and Dilshan Madushanka, a left-arm fast bowler, as replacements for the injured and unwell players.
The ongoing three-match series is set to conclude on Tuesday in Kandy. Following this, the teams will shift their focus to a three-match ODI series, which is scheduled to commence on Friday in Colombo.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammad Siraj.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.