fast bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to replace Rohit Sharma as India’s T20I captain after the latter announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game after winning the T20 World Cup 2024.
Indian media reported that Pandya will be rewarded for his exceptional performance in the mega event, while ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be named the team’s vice-captain.
Pandya, was crucial to India’s T20 World Cup glory as the all-rounder bowled the last over against the Proteas in the final to save the target. He also removed Heinrich Klaasen during the match, who almost took the game away from the Men in Blue.
As for the captaincy, the names of Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav were also discussed but Pandya has emerged as the favorite and is likely to lead the team in the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka.
India is currently playing a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, where Shubman Gill is leading the team. The series is tied 1-1 after the Blues made an impressive comeback in the second T20I to record a 100-run win.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah had earlier confirmed that Rohit will lead the Indian cricket team for the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Sharma recently ended India’s 11-year ICC trophy drought and led them to victory in the T20 World Cup as the Blues defeated South Africa in a thrilling final in Bridgetown.
Sharma was named India’s captain in 2021 after Virat Kohli stepped down, and since then the Blues have made it to the finals of the 2021-23 WTC and the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup, losing to Australia on both occasions.
