Mumbai, July 16: There is hardly any doubt about his cricketing skills, or his ability to lead Indian team in the T20I format. But his fitness is still a big concern.
Pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is a vital cong for Team India's scheme of things in any format. But his frequent injury concerns is understood to have kept him away from the five-day Test format and even the ODIs up to some extent.
He too has expressed his preference for the shortest format. But the red-ball Test, or even the domestic longer format Ranji Trophy games, have not been his preferred choices in the last couple of years due to injury.
Hardik has been named the Indian T20I skipper for the three-match series against the Sri Lanka. Since Rohit Sharma has quit the T20I format, his elevation was very much expected.
He too was Rohit's deputy in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Hardik's contributions with both bat and ball in the title winning campaign of Team India were very impressive.
Despite a lacklustre beginning to his captaincy role for Mumbai Indian in the 2024 IPL season, and family issues, Hardik braved all odds, to perform as a champion all-rounder for India in the recent T20 World Cup.
He is definitely an automatic choice a to lead India in the T20Is. Because that is the format he prefers most, owing to his frequent injury scares.
In ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 at home, Hardik had to skip the tournament mid-way due to injury.
Hardik 's omission from ODI World Cup 2023 due to injury after a few games, gave an opening to pacer Mohd Shami in the playing XI. The right-arm pacer did excel well and was outstanding. But the pace-bowling all-rounder replacement for Hardik, was almost over for Team India.
Hardik is a match winner due to his abilities with both bat and ball. He is an excellent fielder too. Having led India earlier, and his two-year successful previous stint as captain of Gujarat Titans in the IPL, reflect his success as a leader.
But frequent injury concerns is still a major worry as far his regular availability. Perhaps realising that, the BCCI and the selection committee members are unsure of handing him the India's T20I captainship role on a regular basis.
Suryakumar Yadav or Shubman Gill, who ever would be picked as his deputy for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, may be the front runner for the regular T20I skipper responsibility, if Hardik is not assigned that role due to injury worries.
The T20Is against Sri Lanka will start from July 27 to 30 in Pallekele, followed by the ODIs from August 2 to 7 in Colombo. The squad for the series is expected to be announced in the next couple of days.
Hardik will not be part of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, though he will play the T20Is. He has asked for a break during the three-match ODI series, which is scheduled in August, due to "personal reasons".
