India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has impressed one and all with his stunning performances ever since he returned back to the game. After spending many months on the sidelines due to a back injury, Pandya made a splendid return to the game in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League, and ever since then, there have been no turning backs for the star cricketer — from leading his side Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 title to leading the Indian cricket team in some important series in the absence of Rohit Sharma.
Hardik’s success in 2022 and Rohit’s failure as a captain to win the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia have raised calls for giving the star all-rounder T20I captaincy on a permanent basis. There have been reports that the BCCI will soon hand over the T20I captaincy to Hardik Pandya, however, no official statement has been made by the Indian board so far.
Meanwhile, several experts and former cricketers have backed Hardik Pandya for the role. However, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has an interesting take on the whole captaincy episode. He feels that if the BCCI has decided to move apart from the top 3 — Rohit, Virat, and Rahul, Hardik may be made captain because the team doesn’t have any other player, who makes the side automatically apart from Suryakumar Yadav, who has been named his deputy. He said:
“We have to wait and watch. If actually selectors have moved on from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, then probably yes. When Rohit comes back, it’s gonna be difficult for someone like Hardik to replace him as captain because judging him by just one ICC tournament, it’s not the right parameter. If selectors have already communicated to Virat, KL Rahul and Rohit, and all those guys. If there’s clear communication, they have moved on from them. Then probably Hardik is the only guy at the moment because he is the only one who actually fits in that playing XI. And then you got Suryakumar as his deputy. So I think, that’s going to be the way forward,”
Further, Gambhir added that Hardik deserves the role of captain as he has been sensational ever since his return to cricket after a gap of 5-months. He said:
“He has been absolutely brilliant. Since he has come out of that controversy. Since he has taken over as captain of Gujarat Titans (GT), he has won the IPL. He has done everything possible that was asked of him, from the Indian cricket point of view. Looking at the World Cup as well, I think the semi-final when it came to that crunch game, where India was under pressure . And then playing that kind of a blinder. I think he has that X-factor. Hopefully, he can try and give that X-factor or courage to other guys as well. This is a very young side, they are fearless, and that is what you want to see in T20I cricket,”
