Hardik Pandya has been having an amazing season ever since his recovery from a back ailment. The all-reputation rounder’s as a skipper has only grown since he guided Indian Premier League champions Gujarat Titans, who were his team’s debutants, to victory.
Pandya has led India not just in the IPL but also in Ireland and New Zealand when veteran players weren’t available, enabling India to win the series in each of those matches. Pandya once again aced the captaincy test as India began a fresh strategy in the shorter format with an eye toward the T20 World Cup in 2024. The Pandya-captained Indian team defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in the T20I series.
The argument over whether India should consider Pandya as a substitute for Rohit in the T20Is has been renewed in light of the outcome. Ajay Jadeja, a former cricketer for India, shared his thoughts on the subject, saying that he thinks Rohit should pass over the captaincy to Pandya just like MS Dhoni did with Virat Kohli in the past.
Ajay Jadeja told Cricbuzz, “He (Pandya) used Umran well, he’s done all the right things. The only thing, when I see him again I’ll say just because a week ago you were not captain and a week later you are doesn’t mean you don’t have to run as fast as you were running or fielding. Or being as athletic as you were, you as a player should not go down. And just don’t worry about the team alone, because you as a champion player is more important than leading.
At the moment we’ve still got Rohit Sharma, who has been leading and his records show that he is the best captain. There is never a king waiting, all kings had to grab their place. Because waiting means it’s the right of a king who he gives it to. Like Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave it to Virat Kohli, it wasn’t the board or selectors. Mahendra Singh Dhoni who picked Virat Kohli and said I think you should take it on from here. I feel that’s how it should be.”