Skipper Surya confirms Sanju as India's first-choice wicketkeeper for T20Is

Sanju Samson might be lower in the pecking order when it comes to ODIs, but T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has cleared the confusion over the Kerala wicketkeeper's relevance in the shortest format for Team India.

“Currently, there is no question mark on the wicketkeeper,” Suryakumar said on the eve of India's home series opener against England at the Eden Gardens. “Sanju has done really well in the last 7-8, maybe 10 games he's played, and he has truly shown what he is capable of.”

Suryakumar was one of the many cheerleaders in Durban last November when Sanju became the first Indian to score consecutive centuries in T20Is. After scoring his maiden T20I century against Bangladesh (111) at home, Sanju hit two more in the South Africa tour that India clinched 3-1 under Suryakumar's captaincy.

Meanwhile, the captain also said there was a healthy bond between his teammates, especially Hardik Pandya, who was expected to become the T20I captain after Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format.

“My relationship with him has been really great. We have been playing for a very long time right now. I still remember 2018 when I went back to Mumbai Indians. And till today, it's just the added responsibility which I have got

“We have been good friends on and off the field. When we go back to franchise cricket, it (captaincy) shifts to him so I can relax a little bit. We know what we want going forward with the team,” Suryakumar said. Spinner Axar Patel is the vice-captain of the side.

England have a lengthy tour that includes five T20Is and three ODIs before next month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan. India will play their Champions Trophy (50 over) matches in the UAE due to diplomatic issues with the neighbouring country. Both Sanju and Suryakumar are not part of India's Champions Trophy squad led by Rohit Sharma.