The former selector has entered the discussion of who could lead Team India in Twenty20 international cricket as the team prepares to tour Sri Lanka for a white-ball series later this month.
Former selector Saba Karim has weighed in on the discussion around the team’s new T20 international captaincy, with Team India scheduled to play Sri Lanka for a white-ball series later this month. India’s schedule against Sri Lanka includes three Twenty20 Internationals and an equal number of One-Day Internationals. It is very possible that experienced batter Rohit Sharma, who captained India at the T20 World Cup, will be rested for the six-game tour. Sharma announced his retirement from T20 International cricket after the tournament’s victory. Yet the BCCI has not yet revealed the team for the series, nor the captain or captains for the ODI and T20I rubbers.
Karim believes that Hardik Pandya, who has previously skippered the squad in his absence in the past, is a natural choice to succeed Rohit as the next captain of India’s Twenty20 international side.
“Who will captain the T20Is is the first matter that needs to be resolved. Since he has retired, Rohit Sharma won’t be playing T20Is. As a result, you will get a new captain. I believe there are two candidates. Hardik Pandya was the vice captain of the victorious World Cup team, therefore it stands to reason that he should be named captain. He had previously led India as captain. “I think the focus right now should be on getting ready for the next T20 World Cup, which is in two years,” Karim stated to Sony Sports.
Karim also offered an unexpected suggestion in Suryakumar Yadav, who captained India in a home T20I series against Australia last year.
Because Suryakumar Yadav captained India in the home series against Australia, I believe the topic of debate should be SKY. There, India overcame Australia, and he did well at bat as well. Thus, he is undoubtedly a viable alternative. Hardik Pandya could be the best choice if the selectors think he can lead the team as a captain, since he has performed admirably in his job. Thus, these, in my opinion, are the two contenders,” he said.
In the meantime, Shubman Gill captained a youthful Indian squad in a five-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe, which came to an end on Sunday with a 4-1 victory for the visitors.
Gill and his players outperformed the hosts in the subsequent games after losing the first game of the series.
