“Ex-India Selector Reveals ‘Ideal Candidate’ for T20I Captaincy—Surprisingly Not Hardik Pandya or Shubman Gill”

As Team India gears up for a white-ball series against Sri Lanka later this month, the discussion surrounding the new T20I captain has intensified. Former selector Saba Karim has expressed his views on the potential candidates, particularly in light of Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20Is following India’s World Cup triumph. The series will include three T20Is and three ODIs, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce the squad and captaincy details.

Karim believes that Hardik Pandya is the natural successor to Rohit Sharma, especially given his experience leading the team in the past. “With Rohit retiring from T20Is, it’s crucial to decide on a new captain. Hardik Pandya should logically take over, as he was the vice-captain during our World Cup victory and has previously captained the side,” Karim stated during an interview with Sony Sports.

He emphasized the importance of preparing for the next T20 World Cup, scheduled for two years from now, making a strong captaincy choice essential.

In a surprising twist, Karim also recommended Suryakumar Yadav as a viable option. Yadav led India in a home series against Australia last year, where the team performed exceptionally well. “The discussion should also include SKY, as he successfully captained India against Australia and showed impressive form with the bat,” Karim noted.

Karim feels both Pandya and Yadav are solid contenders for the captaincy, highlighting their respective contributions to the team. “If selectors believe Hardik can translate his fantastic performances into leadership, he could be the ideal candidate. These two should be the focus of the conversation moving forward.”

Additionally, Shubman Gill recently led a young Indian squad in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, concluding with a 4-1 victory after bouncing back from an opening-match loss.

As the BCCI prepares for the upcoming series, the choice of T20I captain will be pivotal in shaping the future direction of Indian cricket, especially with a new leadership structure on the horizon.