Here’s Why Hardik Pandya Can Be Team India’s Next Captain: The Men in Blue will be playing a limited-overs series comprising 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is. However, a relatively different team will be traveling to Sri Lanka as most of the regular players will be traveling to England for the final of the inaugural edition of the WTC followed by a 5-match Test series against England.
As the regular players will be absent, Shreyas Iyer will be an obvious choice for the leadership duties as the BCCI is looking at a future leader in him, as per the sources. A senior source from the BCCI privy to selection matters talked to the Times of India on conditions of anonymity. The source said:
“It is still not clear if Shreyas will recover fully and will be match-fit in time for the tour of Sri Lanka.”
The source added:
“Normally, a surgery of this scale along with rest, extensive rehab, and training to get back in shape takes around four months. In case Shreyas was available, he would have been the automatic choice for captaincy,”
Now in the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya are two of the strongest contenders for the responsibilities of the captain.
While Hardik isn’t having the best of the time. In fact, even during IPL 2021, Hardik didn’t bowl for Mumbai Indians but he is still one of the strongest contenders for the position. On the other hand, Dhawan turned out to be the highest run-getter in the now-suspended season of IPL 2021.
“Shikhar has had two very good IPL including this curtailed one and being the senior-most among those who are available for selection, he is a very strong contender. Also, he has been a solid performer for India for the past eight years,” an official from the BCCI said.
He added:
“Yes, Hardik hasn’t been regularly bowling for MI or India in recent times. However, he is the man with x-factor and among the options available. He is miles ahead of his peers in terms of being an impact performer. And who knows, maybe extra responsibility brings the best out of him,”
