India's next T20I captain will be Hardik Pandya, says former coach Ravi Shastri

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• Jun 25, 2023 | Poonam Nath

Ravi Shastri has implied that Hardik Pandya will take over as India's white-ball captain after the World Cup...

Digital Desk: Former India coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that Hardik Pandya take over as the national team's white-ball captain after the ODI World Cup in 2023.

Hardik has been outstanding since taking over as national team captain and in the IPL, where he has led the Gujarat Titans to a record-setting season. In the two years since taking over as GT captain, he has guided the club to the IPL title in 2022 and to the final this year, where they were defeated by CSK.

Several analysts have praised the Indian all-rounder's captaincy, particularly during this year's IPL. According to Shastri, who, while speaking to The Week and was quoted by the Indian Express, Hardik should be the captain of the Indian white-ball squad after this year's World Cup if he is fit enough.

"After the World Cup, if his body is fit enough, he should take over the captaincy in white-ball cricket," Shastri said.

Many experts would also like to see Hardik return to the Indian Test team. Ricky Ponting and Lance Klusener also reflected that the all-rounder may have helped the Indian team.

However, Shastri has stated that Hardik may not play Test cricket again since his body is unable to handle the game's longest format.

Shastri also argued that it was time for Indian cricket to gradually phase out the veterans and allow younger players an opportunity, particularly in T20Is and ODIs.

"There are seniors who are ready to be phased out, and there are youngsters who are ready," he remarked.

Notably, several of India's current superstars, such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are in their late thirties, and given the short time ahead of them, India must hunt for options.