Gautam Gambhir delivers a straightforward message to BCCI regarding the T20 World Cup captaincy debate between Hardik, Rohit, and Suryakumar: prioritize players in good form.
There has been increasing discussion about India’s T20 World Cup preparations scheduled for June next year. Following the ODI World Cup, several players have come back, creating a competitive environment within the team as players vie for a spot in the starting XI. The selectors are closely monitoring the situation to finalize the T20 World Cup squad. However, amidst the on-field action and selection discussions, there is a growing off-the-field conversation about the team’s captaincy. Gautam Gambhir, a former India cricketer, has conveyed a straightforward message to the BCCI amid the ongoing captaincy debate.
The current discussion stems from Rohit Sharma’s explicit communication to the selection committee and team management regarding his aspirations in the format, a domain he has been away from since November 2022. In his absence, there is a suggestion that Hardik Pandya is viewed as the optimal choice for captaincy in the T20 World Cup, considering his unofficial leadership role in the shortest format for nearly two years.
In the ongoing discussions, India has identified a third potential captain in Suryakumar Yadav. Following his debut as a captain during the Australia series after the ODI World Cup, where India secured a 4-1 victory, Yadav has been reaffirmed as the captain for the South Africa series.
In the midst of the T20 World Cup captaincy discussions, Gambhir emphasized to India Today that selectors should prioritize selecting players in good form before deliberating on captaincy. He emphasized that the team’s composition is more crucial than the captain’s role. According to Gambhir, the captain should be a player in good form, whether it’s Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, or Suryakumar Yadav. The key focus, in his view, should be on assembling the right squad for the T20 World Cup, with performances in the upcoming IPL also serving as a crucial factor in player consideration.
There is no official confirmation regarding Rohit Sharma’s return to T20 International (T20I) cricket. However, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah expressed his desire to see Hardik Pandya participate in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in January.