Hardik Pandya became the nation’s hero with his electrifying performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, defending 16 runs in the last over to secure India’s victory and lift the trophy. Despite his heroics, Pandya was unexpectedly stripped of his vice-captaincy in T20Is following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format, casting doubts on his leadership future.
In a surprising move, Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the Head Coach of Team India. Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill were named the captain and vice-captain respectively for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. As the team departed for Sri Lanka on July 22, Pandya was seen sharing a warm hug with a fan at the airport, a moment that captured the attention of many.
India is set to face Sri Lanka in the first T20I on July 27 in Pallekele. The decision to overlook Pandya for the captaincy raised eyebrows, especially considering his successful leadership stint with the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022, where he led them to their maiden title in his debut season as captain. However, his tenure as captain of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 was less successful, as the team finished at the bottom of the points table.
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There have been numerous reports suggesting that Gambhir was skeptical about Pandya’s tactical acumen and his ability to fulfill the role of a full-time captain. Despite these doubts, Pandya’s potential remains undeniable. However, for the Sri Lanka tour, Shivam Dube has been chosen as the preferred all-rounder for the ODIs, with Pandya being left out.
Mumbai: Cricketer Hardik Pandya shares a warm hug with a fan as he arrives at the airport for his departure to Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/1U93wXFmW2
— IANS (@ians_india) July 22, 2024
The cricket world buzzed with speculation about Gambhir’s concerns over Pandya’s capability to consistently bowl his full quota of overs in the ODI format. To address these doubts, Pandya has been tasked with proving his fitness and form in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.
This decision has been particularly controversial, given that Dube, who has been included as an all-rounder in the team, bowled just one over in the IPL 2024 and T20 World Cup 2024. He played three T20Is against Zimbabwe, delivering a total of just eight overs.
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The unfolding developments around Pandya’s career highlight the intense scrutiny and high expectations placed on top-tier cricketers. As India embarks on the Sri Lanka tour with a fresh leadership under Yadav and Gill, all eyes will be on how the new captaincy duo navigates this critical phase and whether Pandya can reclaim his place and prove his critics wrong.
