Legendary cricketer and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has voiced his support for Hardik Pandya as the next white-ball captain of Team India. With Rohit Sharma nearing the twilight of his career and having retired from T20Is, the question of leadership in India’s white-ball cricket has become a hot topic.
Kapil Dev, in a recent interview, expressed his belief that Hardik Pandya is the ideal candidate to lead India in ODIs and T20Is. “To me, Hardik Pandya is my white-ball captain. There are many contenders for the post, but Pandya is my choice,” Kapil stated. He emphasized that Pandya’s relatively young age and leadership qualities make him a strong contender to build a team for the next ICC events.
This endorsement comes at a time when Hardik’s leadership credentials have been a subject of debate. While he has had a mixed record as captain in the IPL, his stint as the leader of Gujarat Titans in 2022, where he led the team to a title win, showcased his potential. Kapil also highlighted the need for Pandya to play Test cricket, suggesting that India might require multiple captains for different formats.
Kapil’s remarks align with the vision of Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, who has been tasked with preparing the team for major ICC tournaments, including the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2027 ODI World Cup. Gambhir is expected to focus on building a cohesive unit around young talents like Pandya to ensure India’s dominance in global cricket.
As the cricketing world awaits official announcements, Kapil Dev’s endorsement has added a new dimension to the ongoing discussions about India’s future leadership in white-ball cricket.
