India Cricket T20 Captain – Hardik Pandya T20 Captain: The national selectors have more or less made up their mind to sack Rohit Sharma as T20I captain. Hardik Pandya who is leading the national T20 side in the ongoing tour of New Zealand, will replace his former Mumbai Indians skipper for the top post. Follow Indian Cricket Team LIVE & IND vs NZ LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
Pandya, who led the Gujarat Titans to IPL glory this year, also has the backing of former head coach Ravi Shastri. However, Rohit is likely to continue as Test and ODI captain.
3 Reasons why Rohit should quit T20Is
- Form and fitness: Let’s face it, Rohit Sharma hasn’t been in the best of form with the bat in T20Is. Since the last T20 World Cup in the UAE, Rohit has had a pretty ordinary run with the bat. Though he has 656 runs from 29 innings to show for his efforts, the truth is that Rohit hasn’t been able to score freely in the power play. The left-arm bowlers, pacers in particular, have gotten the better of him on multiple occasions. He has just three half centuries this season, with 72 as his top score at a strike rate of over 134. Consistent breaks due to fitness and rotation policy too hasn’t helped the Hitman either, to get back to his destructive best.
- Adequate replacements: No one is irreplaceable, and neither is Rohit Sharma. The current pool of Indian youngsters provides the national selectors with enough options and alternatives to replace the Mumbaikar. Also, if India aims to emulate England’s model of success, they need to provide openers like Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gayakwad, and Shubman Gill with enough chances before the next T20 World Cup arrives.
- Focus on the 2023 ODI World Cup: Giving up the T20 format will also relieve pressure on Rohit Sharma’s shoulders, and he can fully focus on the upcoming 50-over World Cup, which could very well be his last for the country. His ODI numbers are too low at the moment, but with three double hundreds in the 50-over format, not many can question his spot in the playing XI.
India Cricket T20 Captain: 3 Reasons why Rohit Sharma should go OUT, and why Hardik Pandya should take over as ‘India’s NEW T20 Captain’ before series vs SriLanka: Follow LIVE
3 Reasons why Hardik is the RIGHT choice
- A fearless approach: Team India’s approach in the all-important semi-final against England at the Adelaide Oval was a timid one. The batters batted with caution, and by the time aggression settled in, the game was more or less decided. Hardik Pandya was the only shining star in the game, with a crucial half-century that propelled India to a respectable total of 168/6. India needs that kind of fearless approach moving forward, and Hardik has shown that he has it in him to do the job for the team, just like he did for the Gujarat Titans.
- Building a team from scratch: Experts believe that Team India’s T20 approach requires a reboot and not a refresh. Hardik, with plenty of new faces on his side, with lesser experience but high confidence, can deliver for India. India has two years to prepare for the World Cup, and Hardik, like with the GT, has proven that he has it in him to build a team to make them world champions again.
- Leading from the front: England’s Jos Buttler delivered the knock out punch in the semi-final against India, after struggling with the bat for the most part of the tournament. That’s what great players do, especially the leaders. Hardik also likes the responsibility on his shoulders and wants to lead from the front. He has learned the tricks of the trade from MS Dhoni, who also loved doing the same during his tenure.
India is currently in New Zealand for three ODIs and three T20Is against the Black Caps. Hardik Pandya captains the T20 team, while Shikhar Dhawan captains the ODI team.
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