India had gone into the T20I series against the West Indies with a relatively young squad and wanted to try out plans and players as they start to build their side for next year’s T20 World Cup 2024 which will be held in the West Indies and the USA.
While they returned with few big positives in Tilak Varma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Kuldeep Yadav, they also were handed a big concern regarding Hardik Pandya as the captain.
It can be said with a fair degree of certainty that the selectors seem to have earmarked Hardik Pandya as the next permanent T20I skipper – he’s been leading the side since last year and Rohit Sharma hasn’t played a single T20I since last year’s T20 World Cup – and Hardik is all but certain to captain the team in next year’s T20 World Cup.
He had got himself an outstanding CV as a skipper by leading Gujarat Titans to two straight IPL final and winning one of it.
Under Hardik Pandya, India had won T20I series against the likes of Ireland, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. However, West Indies posed his side a big challenge at home. Even though West Indies cricket has been struggling in recent times, they were bound to not make it easy for India with their power-hitters and T20 specialist players.
The West Indies stunned India by winning their first bilateral series over the Men In Blue in 17 years (minimum 3 matches) and left the visitors with a big concern about their captain himself.
Hardik Pandya was found to be “clueless” and lacking in ideas and innovation when India were bowling. Some of his captaincy calls in the bowling changes were baffling. Not bowling Axar Patel as much as he should have, not bowling Mukesh Kumar with the new ball, and he himself came on to bowl and leaked runs, not bowling Chahal as 4th over in the second T20I when he’d taken two wickets in his third over on a sluggish pitch.
He made matters worse for himself with some bizarre and absurd statement throughout the tour. Fans on social media trolled him badly for his captaincy and his comments.
Hardik Pandya got trolled by the fans on Twitter:
Now you know who is the captain of Gujarat Titans.
Aashish Nehra.
— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 13, 2023
Hardik without Nehra is like Prabhas without Rajamouli pic.twitter.com/kM4hMktZtb
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) August 14, 2023
Hardik Pandya after every match pic.twitter.com/JFrUqBvY8p
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) August 14, 2023
Making Rohit sharma captain of Mumbai Indians is second best decision taken by MI management choosing Surya over Hardik still remains first. pic.twitter.com/c0RiJrE9D1
— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) August 13, 2023
Hardik Pandya after the 3rd T20i – if Nicholas Pooran wants to hit me for sixes, let him hit me. I enjoy such competition.
Pooran Vs Hardik in the 5th T20i – 6,6 in the first over he bowled. pic.twitter.com/bH9N9DLn58
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 13, 2023
https://twitter.com/mainbhiengineer/status/1690813183454560256?s=20
https://twitter.com/sofimehran3232/status/1690932008942534656?s=20
Leaked interview of Hardik Pandya pic.twitter.com/sRfZ67Kd5z
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) August 7, 2023
Hardik Bhai finally did give tribute to this legend. https://t.co/8SE39ArzMO pic.twitter.com/i6NHYtWngy
— Akash (@Akashkumarjha14) August 13, 2023
https://twitter.com/Iconic_Rohit/status/1688974327549726720?s=20
[filmfare award 2023]
*hardik pandya wins best actor award for playing the role of an indian captain*— Neeche Se Topper (@NeecheSeTopper) August 13, 2023
