Hardik Pandya To Replace Rohit Sharma In ODI Format For Captaincy

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Champions Trophy: It appears that the ODI captaincy of Rohit Sharma has been under some scrutiny following his omission from the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground. There are claims that his exclusion was on account of his bad form, but another version states that it could be the last time for Rohit in the Test team. Amid this uncertainty, Hardik Pandya is emerging as the potential successor to take over the reins of the Indian men’s cricket team in ODIs.

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Has Rohit Sharma Played His Last Test Match?

Rohit Sharma was dropped from the playing XI of India for the last Test against Australia. This led to speculations that he is finished with international cricket. Indian vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah at the toss had revealed that Rohit had opted for “resting” for this match. The Indian media portrayed a very different picture when it said Rohit was dropped for having a poor performance in consecutive Tests.

Not only was Rohit left out of the playing XI, but he was also left out of the list of 15 players available for the match, which fueled rumors that his time as a Test cricketer could be coming to an end. This has led cricket analysts to propose that this could have been his last Test match, especially considering India played earlier at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Hardik Pandya is the ideal candidate for ODI captaincy

Rohit’s Test cricket career future is indefinite. However, looking at his age—the man is 37—and coupled with India requiring a new captain for ODIs who can start as early as next year in crucial international games including the Champions Trophy in 2025, things are to become very decisive shortly. It seems that it may be allrounder Hardik Pandya from the Indian camp leading the countryside in the ODI.

Pandya’s skills as a leader have gained recent prominence and along with his all-round abilities, would make for an excellent well-balanced decision if he had to lead the Indian team in this high-pressure event of the Champions Trophy. Quoting MyKhel, there was a faceless voice of opinion when a source was interviewed, stating: “Hardik has the capabilities to lead even in a high-pressure environment. An all-rounder and a great leader like himself is best suited for such ICC events as this Champions Trophy”.

The Twist: Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav’s chances

The race for India’s ODI captaincy isn’t as cut and dry as it might seem. Hardik Pandya seems to be the leading candidate, but there are reports that Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav are not in the running at present. According to media sources, Gill still needs more experience to mature as a leader, and Suryakumar Yadav’s inconsistent performance in ODIs makes him an unlikely candidate for the captaincy.

The place of Suryakumar in the team itself is not assured, and till his position is stabilized, his becoming a captain would be considered quite unlikely. According to the report, it has been decided that if Rohit cannot play the subsequent matches, then Hardik remains the most balanced and feasible choice to lead India in ODIs.

Experience of Hardik Pandya with Captaincy

Hardik Pandya has already received valuable leadership experience, having led India in three ODI matches. In March 2023, he led the team to a five-wicket win over Australia under pressure. He later led India to victories over the West Indies, including a six-wicket win and a 200-run dominating victory in July and August 2023.

Despite his leadership successes, Pandya’s fitness remains a concern. He is often sidelined from Test cricket due to his fitness issues, and his inability to play all formats may limit his long-term leadership potential. Nonetheless, his impressive record as a captain in limited-overs formats, particularly in ODIs and T20s, puts him in a strong position to take over the leadership role in the upcoming years.

The Road Ahead for Team India

The future of Rohit Sharma in Test cricket remains unclear, but Hardik Pandya is coming to the forefront as the most probable leader for India in the 50-over format. With the 2025 Champions Trophy just a few months away, the leadership qualities and experience he has gained as the leader of the team in recent ODIs make him the perfect candidate for India’s next ODI skipper.

However, that will be a decision taken on the grounds of factors such as Rohit’s form and fitness, and the shifting dynamics of leadership within the team. Currently, it seems Hardik Pandya is going to have a vital role in creating India’s leadership for the foreseeable future.

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