Rohit Sharma will be 36 by the time the ICC ODI World Cup, to be hosted by India in October-November of this year, ends in 2023. And, there is every possibility that he will retire from international cricket after the World Cup. According to sources, he may play Tests for a couple more years and retire from ODIs and T20Is. In view of which the BCCI is engaged in contemplation, meditation and churning regarding the next captain of Team India.
It is believed that Indian team all-rounder Hardik Pandya is a strong contender for the next captain of Team India. This is the reason why BCCI has been giving T20I captaincy to Hardik Pandya from time to time.
According to BCCI sources, Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in the ICC ODI World Cup, 2023. But, BCCI will have to plan for the future. If Rohit Sharma (Captain Team India) announces his retirement after the World Cup, then preparations have to be made considering the possibility of such a situation. And, looking at the same, BCCI is making Hardik Pandya a season, trying it.
If we look at Hardik Pandya’s career, under his captaincy, the new IPL team Gujarat Titans (GT IPL 2022) won the IPL trophy in their very first season under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya Captain. Under his captaincy, the Indian team also won the T20I series played against New Zealand and then against Sri Lanka. Hardik Pandya will also captain the upcoming T20I Series, 2023 (NZL vs IND T20I Series, 2023) against New Zealand. The history of International T20 cricket tells that under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, the Indian team has faced defeat in only 2 matches so far. In this context, there is every possibility that Hardik Pandya can be made captain for limited overs cricket team after ICC ODI World Cup, 2023.
Vinay Kumar