Surykumar Yadav has nudged Hardik Pandya to become the T20I captain for India’s original journeying to Sri Lanka. However, Mohammad Kaif, a former Indian batsman thinks Hardik should have been the Indian national team’s skipper in this format.
It is of note that young opener Shubman Gill has turned up as vice-captain in T20Is. The preceding holder of this office was Hardik who had held it successfully during the 2024 T20 World Cup. In IANS interview, Mr Kaif expressed his views that considering what Hardik has done as leader previously, Ajit Agarkar led selection panel ought to have preferred him.
“Hardik has captained the Gujarat Titans for two years and in their first year itself, they made it to the final… Hardik has experience captaining the T20I side. He was also the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup. Now a new coach has arrived, there will be new planning. Surya is also a good player…He is a No.1 T20 player (batsman). I hope he will shoulder the captain’s responsibility well. But I feel they should have backed Hardik,” said Kaif.
“Gambhir is an experienced captain and coach…He understands cricket very well. I think ‘Hardik ne aisa koi galat kaam nhi kia k unko captaincy na mile’ (Hardik has not done anything wrong that he should not get the captaincy),” Kaif further said.
While playing for India in ODIs last year, Hardik got injured then which ended his term as T20I skipper where he played about 16 matches.
During last two Indian Premier League seasons he was leading Gujarat Titans who were victorious under his control of operations in 2022 and runners-up in 2023, before he returned to Mumbai Indians this year as its skipper instead of Rohit Sharma.
“He has experience, has captained in the IPL; and leading a new team (Gujarat Titans) to trophy, with fresh and young faces, is a huge thing. He has made the Titans win by working from zero in the IPL…I think he was entitle to the captaincy,” he added.
