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Former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has endorsed Hardik Pandya as the future captain of India’s T20I team. Rohit Sharma is currently leading India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, which is likely his final international T20 assignment. Rohit, who is currently 37 years old, will be 39 when the next T20 World Cup begins. Recent indications from the BCCI suggest that senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will shift their focus towards Test and ODI cricket after the T20 World Cup 2024, with younger players being preferred for the T20 format.
In a recent video shared on social media by Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik expressed his opinion on who should lead India in T20Is next. When asked about potential candidates like Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill, Karthik confidently advocated for Hardik Pandya. He highlighted Pandya’s previous experience leading the Indian team as a key factor in his recommendation.
“I think Hardik should be the next captain. He is the vice-captain of this World Cup and he was leading India before Rohit came back to take it over. So, I think Hardik will be the next captain,” Karthik said in the video posted by Cricbuzz.
Hardik Pandya has captained India in 16 T20Is, with the team securing 10 victories, suffering 5 losses, and one match ending in a tie. Following the T20 World Cup 2022, India implemented significant changes to their squad. Initially, senior players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were advised to prioritize longer formats, with the World Test Championship final and the 2023 ODI World Cup in focus.
However, their return to the T20I series against Afghanistan earlier this year raised questions about their roles. Eventually, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were included in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, with Rohit Sharma assuming the captaincy and Hardik Pandya being appointed as vice-captain.
In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Hardik Pandya has showcased outstanding form, making significant contributions with both bat and ball. He has accumulated 116 runs in four innings with just two dismissals, maintaining a strong strike rate of 145. Pandya played pivotal innings during the Super 8 matches against Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Australia.
Equally impressive with the ball, Pandya has claimed 8 wickets across six matches in the tournament, boasting an average of 19.62 and an economy rate of 7.47. His crucial wickets in matches against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA during the group stage underscore his effectiveness.
Despite doubts over his selection due to his underwhelming performance in IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya has once again demonstrated his value as one of India’s key players in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
