There were no signs of animosity between both of them despite Hardik losing out India’s T20I captaincy to Surya. During a distinctive fielding exercise designed by T Dilip, who continues to oversee the department amidst the introduction of new coaching personnel by Gautam Gambhir, the two players were seen engaging in friendly interaction.
The camaraderie between Hardik and Surya remained unaffected by the change in leadership roles within the team.
In a video posted by the BCCI on Friday, Suryakumar and Hardik were captured chuckling during the Indian team’s training session. Throughout the interaction, head coach Gambhir couldn’t help but smile at the lighthearted moment.
“Quite a vibe in the group in this fun session at Kandy,” read the caption.
Suryakumar replaced Rohit Sharma as T20I captain after he announced his retirement from the 20-over format after India’s World Cup victory in June.
He pipped all-rounder Hardik to the post after concerns over the latter’s frequent injury absences.
Suryakumar, however, holds Hardik Pandya in great esteem and emphasized that his responsibilities within the team will remain unchanged
“Hardik’s role has always been the same. He is a very important player for the team. The way he performed in the World Cup, I hope he will continue to do the same,” he said.