'He has the ability as a skipper...': Not Shubman Gill, India's Asia Cup winning star names this batter as Rohit Sharma's 'proper replacement'

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Suryakumar Yadav is the proper replacement for Rohit Sharma in T20Is after his match-winning knock in the overhyped high-voltage clash against Pakistan. India's T20I team has undergone a transition following the retirements of batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the shortest format of the game last year.

Rohit called it a day from T20Is after guiding India to the T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados. After Rohit's retirement, Suryakumar Yadav continued the momentum, leading India in 23 matches, winning 19 of them.

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Kaif, who was a part of India's Asia Cup winning squad, praised Suryakumar Yadav's maturity during the toss against Pakistan game, which was embroiled in controversy after the Mumbaikar refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, Salmam Agha, at the toss.

“With the bat, he produced the winning hit, went unbeaten, and the way he replied to the media, talked about the things that show he has the ability as a skipper. The things that need to be taken care of on the day. Such a big game between India and Pakistan, and he turned out to be a true leader fairly. So, I do not doubt in my mind that he is a proper replacement for Rohit Sharma as skipper. The way he smiles while talking, his bat always does the talking,” Kaif said in an Instagram reel.

Kaif also praised Suryakumar's strategy to use all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma in the Pakistan match that India won comfortably to storm into the Super 4s.

“Captaincy is brilliant. Hardik Pandya is bowling with the new ball; Abhishek Sharma is also bowling one or two overs in the middle. He’s managed things rightly. As captain, he has led in 24 matches and won 20 [actually 19 matches, excluding a tie] games. I do not doubt that he is on the way to becoming a great leader,” he added.

India will now face Oman in their third group stage clash, which will take place on September 19 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which will be a dead rubber clash.