Hardik Pandya made Gujarat Titans (GT) the champions in the very first season under his captaincy. Since then, he is getting a lot of praise. Former veterans including Little Master Sunil Gavaskar have praised him a lot. He has described this all-rounder player as the future captain of Team India. Pandya’s performance in IPL 2022 with ball and bat has been very good. Due to this, Team India has returned for the T20 series against South Africa.
Team India has to go on a tour of England after this series. Meanwhile, the team also has to play a T20 series against Ireland, which will happen only during the postponed Test match last year. In such a situation, the selection of two teams is decided. One team will play Test and the other T20. KL Rahul has been named the captain for the series against Africa. Rishabh Pant is the captain. Both have been selected in the Test team. In such a situation, the command of Team India for the T20 series against Ireland can be handed over to Hardik Pandya. Let’s know what has happened to the giants:
Impressed by Hardik Pandya’s captaincy in IPL-15, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes the star all-rounder has emerged as a strong contender to lead the Indian team in the near future. He said on Star Sports, “Yes definitely. Not just my guess, everyone’s assessment (Hardik’s reputation as a captain has increased). It was an aspect of his game that no one knew much about. We all knew what he could do with bat and ball, but before the start of the season there was a slight concern whether he would be able to bowl his full quota of 4 overs. He has done that. Everyone is happy with him.”
Sanjay Manjrekar gets a glimpse of MS Dhoni’s captaincy in Hardik Pandya. He told ESPNcricinfo, “Hardik Pandya bowled well. In batting too, he batted in all gear, playing at the crucial No. 4 spot. He captained the team like MS Dhoni. R Sai Kishore bowled the 16th and 18th overs in the final. His captaincy was similar to that of MS Dhoni, as he took decisions according to the circumstances of the match. He enjoyed the captaincy and looked quite relaxed. ,
Harbhajan Singh feels that Hardik Pandya has the potential to captain Team India. He said, “Hardik Pandya is the best captain in IPL 2022. He showed intent as a captain. Any doubts about his fitness have been cleared. His positive captaincy is a good sign for the future as he can lead Team India when needed. He appears very serious and calm on the field. He showed how to take the team forward. He impressed the most. ,