India Cricket Team Overhaul: India vs NewZealand LIVE – India T20 Captaincy: While Hardik Pandya is set for his biggest captaincy test in NewZealand, he has found a backer in Ravi Shastri. The former India coach has argued that there is no harm in identifying a new captain for T20s after India’s embarrassing exit from T20 WC. With KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant falling out of favour as future T20s captains, Hardik Pandya has got the backing. However, as per BCCI, they are not ready to take a call on Rohit Sharma yet. The Indian captain is currently on a break. Follow IND vs NZ LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“For T20 cricket, there is no harm in having a new captain. Because the volume of cricket is such that for one player, to play all three formats of the game is never going to be easy. If Rohit is already leading in Tests and ODIs, there is no harm in identifying a new T20I captain and if his name is Hardik Pandya, so be it,” Ravi Shastri in a media gathering organised by Prime Video.
India Cricket Team Overhaul: Ravi Shastri backs Hardik Pandya for T20 captaincy, BCCI official says ‘Not taking any call before January’
BCCI wants to let Rohit Sharma decide his future in T20Is. Once the break is over, the BCCI will discuss the way forward with selectors, head coach Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli. BCCI will also discuss Kohli’s future in T20Is with ODIs & Tests taking precedence. However, BCCI will only take a call on the future of Hardik Pandya as a full-time T20I captain early next year. India won’t play any T20 series until January after NZ series.
“It’s an important decision. But we are not in a hurry to take a call yet. We will have a discussion regarding the future planning for T20 WC 2024 with Rohit and Rahul. We will take a call early next year. Till then, Rohit is a designated all-format captain,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
India Cricket Team Overhaul: Ravi Shastri backs Hardik Pandya for T20 captaincy, BCCI official says ‘Not taking any call before January’
The reason for the delay is the absence of any T20 series until January. India will host SriLanka and NewZealand in the January-February window after the end of the Bangladesh tour. However, most senior players are likely to skip the home series against SriLanka. In their absence, BCCI will have to take a call on the captaincy. It is likely that Hardik Pandya will continue.
Furthermore, many are divided in the BCCI on making Hardik Pandya a full-time T20 captain due to his history of injuries. Although Hardik has been injury-free since making a comeback, being an all-rounder he will need workload management as well. That is one big area of discussion to manage an injury-free Hardik.
India Cricket Team Overhaul: Will Rohit Sharma step down from India T20 Captaincy?
- It is likely that Rohit Sharma will vacate one captaincy to focus on 2023 WC.
- As Rohit Sharma will focus more on ODIs and Tests in 2023 leading up to 2024, he will miss a lot of T20s.
- Hence, Hardik Pandya has emerged as a strong candidate.
- Even though he has found a lot of backers inside BCCI and among former players, BCCI is still undecided.
- If India do well in NewZealand under his captaincy in Rohit, KL and Kohli’s absence, Hardik will win over the BCCI.
- While a change was on the cards after ODI World Cup next year, BCCI is set to take a call by January before SL series.
- With injuries and fitness concerns, Rohit Sharma will not be the captain for T20 World Cup 2024.
- Instead, Hardik Pandya is likely to be the leader.
- KL Rahul is the next in line for ODI and Test captaincy.
TICK..TICK..BOOM 💥💥
All charged up for the #NZvIND T20I series opener#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/AsNSTeMqq8
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 17, 2022
However, KL Rahul, the designated vice-captain of T20 World Cup, is unlikely to stay on in the role. His poor form and failure to follow the template set is a matter of concern. The BCCI is likely to take away T20 vice-captaincy from him.
“We have to take some important calls. But we cannot make them in a haste. Until we sit together and discuss a roadmap for 2024 World Cup, everyone is available for selection. As for Rahul, he is still a valuable member of the team. He has a proven track record in IPL. So, one cannot say he is suddenly not good in T20 cricket. Everyone goes through a slump,” the BCCI official said.
India Cricket Team Overhaul: Ravi Shastri backs Hardik Pandya for T20 captaincy, BCCI official says ‘Not taking any call before January’
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