Hardik Pandya, the hero who brought the game for India in the finals of the T20 World Cup has been named as the captain for the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka. The tour will also comprise the three ODI games, but the news is breaking that the star all-rounder will not be available for the longer version of the games.
Citing personal reasons, the native of Gujarat will be a feature in ODIs. Whilst confirming that he is suffering from any fitness issues, Hardik Pandya will join the now T20 retired stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in skipping this tour of the Island nation. This news is interesting, but not entirely unsurprising. Having just finished a difficult but ultimately successful World T20 campaign, combined with India’s wealth of talent, and given the strength of opposition, the choice to opt is a reasonable one.
Hardik Out for ODIs – Then who Will Captain India instead?
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Since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have opted out of the tour the question is who will lead them? Since Hardik has been confirmed as captain for the T20s, that issue seems to have been settled. But questions remain on the leadership and makeup of the squad. Notable here is the absence of key players Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, who are also expected to miss the tour. This presents an experience gap that the Indian selectors may or may not wish to fill.
Going back to India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2021, the management decided to opt for a young but talented side with Shikhar Dhawan at the helm. There is a good chance that the selectors might opt for the same strategy considering the relative weakness and poor form of the opposition: Sri Lanka. However, there is also a chance that the selectors will stick to the youth-first strategy and keep Shubman Gill as captain for the ODIs. This is a sensible choice as he brings that temperance a cricketer like Hardik Pandya showcases.
India Coach Gautam Gambhir Wants Kohli, Rohit and Bumrah to Play
Making matters more interesting are the recent reports by the new team India coach Gautam Gambhir is reported to have expressed interest in the heavyweights who brought home the World T20 trophy, to India to play in the coming tour. This makes selection more interesting as that would add a new dynamic to the selection process.
However, it is a fair guess that the team that will play against Sri Lanka in the ODIs and the T20s will be a young side, with some experience at the top namely in the form of Hardik Pandya in the T20s. That has been the formula that Indian cricket has adopted over the past decade or so. Aiming to develop young cricketers in teams consisting of and led by a few senior players such as Hardik Pandya.
Will Hardik Pandya’s Absence Matter? Unlikely
Let’s get a couple of things straight. This tour of Sri Lanka is unlike to challenge India seriously. The Sri Lankan team of the present is not the outfit from a decade or so ago that used to dominate India at home. And on top of that this India team, whether it is the top 11 featuring all senior players or a ‘second string’ side, is significantly stronger than the opposition. So Hardik Pandya’s absence from the ODI outfit will not be an issue. Whilst the game will not necessarily be a walk in the park, it is a good bet that India will dominate.
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