Reports suggest that star all-rounder Hardik Pandya might soon become the captain of the Indian cricket team. For a long time, speculation persisted that Hardik will be named as Rohit Sharma’s successor as the captain of white-ball cricket representation for India, due to his experience in leading the side in various series during the veteran’s absence from action. After India’s triumph in last year’s T20 World Cup, the BCCI installed Suryakumar Yadav as the complete T20I chief.
Early in the year, Hardik did not get another chance for display since young batsman Shubman Gill was appointed vice-captain. Hardik had even lost his vice-captaincy of the recently concluded T20I series against England to Axar Patel.
But, according to a report in Dainik Bhaskar, Hardik will become the new India ODI captain if the team cannot win the Champions Trophy.
“Head coach Gautam Gambhir wanted Hardik Pandya to become vice-captain, but Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar were adamant on choosing Shubman Gill,” the report said.
The report also added that Hardik could even regain his captaincy in T20Is, given that the current skipper Suryakumar seems to be going through a slump.
Hardik acted as Rohit’s second-in-command during the T20 World Cup last year but due to concerns over his fitness and subsequently demoted from the vice-captaincy.
Some of the BCCI officials and Gambhir believe that Hardik has suffered plenty of injustice in the past. He lost the captaincy because of fitness issues; however, he has been in superb form for quite some time.
Suryakumar had himself scored just 28 runs against England in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series. His position in the side has also come under serious scrutiny of late.
India are set to take on England in a three-match ODI series starting February 06 with their Champions Trophy campaign opening up with a match against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
India squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.
