Former India cricketer and ex-selector Saba Karim has said that Suryakumar Yadav’s recent performances do not justify his place in India’s long-term T20I plans, especially with the focus shifting towards the 2028 T20 World Cup. Karim believes selectors may opt for a younger core, similar to the transition made after moving on from senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Suryakumar, who currently leads India’s T20I side, has struggled for consistency in recent months. Despite a few notable performances earlier in the year, his form remained below expectations in both international cricket and the IPL, where he managed 270 runs in 13 matches with two half-centuries.
Karim also named Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar as a potential leadership candidate, praising his calm approach and success in guiding a star-studded side to back-to-back IPL titles. He further identified Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan as strong contenders for future captaincy roles.
On Hardik Pandya, Karim said recent questions over his leadership style and current form could affect his chances of being considered for the captaincy. He also backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a national call-up, stating that the youngster has shown enough promise to be seriously considered by selectors.
