With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from T20Is, India is on the hunt for a new captain in the shortest format. Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah are among the frontrunners, but the team management might also consider Rishabh Pant or Shubman Gill as potential successors. This article explores the strengths and weaknesses of each contender and analyzes who is best suited to lead India into the next T20 World Cup cycle.
Rohit Sharma, the elegant batsman and captain extraordinaire, has bid farewell to the T20I format after a glorious 17-year journey. His contributions extend beyond his batting brilliance, as he shaped India’s fearless approach and guided them to a World Cup victory. While his journey in the shortest format comes to an end, Rohit remains focused on achieving more in the other formats.
Thibaut Courtois will miss Belgium’s Euro 2024 opener against Slovakia due to an ongoing dispute with coach Domenico Tedesco over the captaincy. Despite recovering from a serious knee injury, Courtois was not included in the 26-man squad for the tournament. This marks the first major international tournament since Euro 2012 that Courtois has missed with Belgium.
The Mumbai Indians’ underwhelming performance this season has raised questions about the future of Rohit Sharma, who has been removed from captaincy and dropped multiple hints of discontent. The team’s dismal season, coupled with Sharma’s silence on his plans, has fueled rumors of his potential exit. While Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher confirmed discussions with Sharma, the player remains tight-lipped, stating that his priority is the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Former England batter Kevin Pietersen has agreed with Gautam Gambhir’s assessment of his captaincy, calling himself a ‘terrible captain.’ The comments came after Gambhir criticized Pietersen and AB de Villiers for their critique of Hardik Pandya’s leadership of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. While Pietersen acknowledged his poor record as captain, Gambhir’s own record as skipper is impressive, leading Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles.
There have been reports of a growing rift between Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya. The tension between the two is believed to have started when Hardik was appointed as the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), replacing Rohit, who had led the team for five years and won the title multiple times. This decision reportedly did not sit well with Rohit, as it was the first time a current Indian captain would play under someone else in the IPL. The situation has been further exacerbated by both Rohit and Hardik’s poor performances in the IPL this season, which has contributed to MI’s struggles. There have also been reports of separate camps within the MI setup, with Rohit and Pandya rarely practicing together. During a recent practice session, Rohit and his teammates Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma reportedly left the nets when Hardik arrived to have a session.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ former captain Gautam Gambhir has expressed his regret over not maximizing Suryakumar Yadav’s potential during the latter’s time with the franchise. Yadav, now a key player for the Indian team and Mumbai Indians, was part of KKR from 2014 to 2017 but failed to establish himself as a regular in the playing XI. Gambhir acknowledged that Yadav’s true batting position was never identified, and he was underutilized as a lower middle-order batter.
Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, many young players have made their debuts for India, showcasing his guidance and camaraderie in the dressing room. Despite the traditional hierarchy between senior and junior players, Rohit and the emerging talents have a positive dynamic that is evident on and off the field. Rohit’s leadership was tested in the recent Test series against England, where he faced player absences due to injuries and personal commitments. However, his adept captaincy steered the team through challenges, demonstrating his ability to rally the squad even in adversity. Rohit’s camaraderie with the youngsters was reflected on the field, with several of his one-liners becoming talking points on social media. One such moment occurred when Rohit urged his players to put more effort on the field, telling them they weren’t walking in a garden. This line went viral on social media, and Rohit recreated the moment with Mumbai Indians’ youngster Tilak Varma. Tilak cleverly responded, pointing out that they were in Eden Gardens. Mumbai Indians will face Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match, aiming to reach double figures in the points table. KKR, on the other hand, is almost assured of a playoff spot and currently tops the table with 16 points.
Sam Curran has replaced Shikhar Dhawan as captain of the Punjab Kings due to Dhawan’s unavailability. Curran, who had been leading the team in Dhawan’s absence, has been confirmed as the skipper for the remaining two matches of the season. Dhawan missed the first seven games of the season due to a shoulder injury and has not played since match 23 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he scored 14 runs off 16 balls. Despite Dhawan’s absence, Punjab Kings have managed to secure eight points in 11 games but have failed to emerge as contenders for the playoff stage.
Legendary South African batter AB de Villiers has criticized Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya’s leadership style, suggesting that his ‘bravado’ and ‘fake’ intensity have contributed to the team’s poor performance this season. De Villiers believes that Pandya’s approach may have been suitable for his previous team, Gujarat Titans, but it has not been effective in a more experienced side like Mumbai Indians. The former RCB player pointed out that senior players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah prefer a calmer and more collective leadership style, which Pandya’s ‘ego-driven’ captaincy lacks. De Villiers drew parallels with Graeme Smith’s leadership, emphasizing that experienced players need a more supportive and collaborative captain rather than one who relies on posturing and chest-thumping. He also suggested that Pandya’s ‘fake it to make it’ mentality may have worked for him as a player, but it is not an effective strategy for a captain in a team with seasoned cricketers. With Mumbai Indians already eliminated from playoff contention and languishing near the bottom of the points table, De Villiers’ comments have sparked debate about the team’s future and the suitability of Pandya as captain.
