'If the case presents itself, why not?' - Dinesh Karthik on Team India adapting split-captaincy

Since the 2022 T20 World Cup, India has had two different captains lead them in ODIs and T20Is. However, the team administration has insisted that no decision has been made in this regard officially. Since India's elimination from the global tournament in the semi-finals, Hardik Pandya has served as the team's T20I captain, and all-format skipper Rohit Sharma is yet to play a game in the 20-over format.

Dinesh Karthik, a seasoned wicketkeeper, stated that split captaincy may become official depending on how India does in the ODI World Cup later this year, but for the time being, it is too soon to make any decisions as the team won't be playing many T20I matches before the marquee event, which is slated to take place in October-November this year.

“If the case presents itself, why not? But right now, it is not right for me to say for two reasons. One, India are only playing three T20s after this until the 2023 World Cup, they face the West Indies after the IPL. Once that tournament is done, I think we will know exactly where things stand,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

“If Rohit Sharma's team doesn't go on to do something special there, we could very well see a chance of split captaincy, I guess the opportunity will present itself at that point of time. Whereas if Rohit goes on to achieve something special, we will all like to think differently and give him a crack at the 2024 T20 World Cup if he himself is willing to play that,” he added.

Hardik has done a phenomenal job: Karthik

Irrespective of what transpired, Pandya did a terrific job of guiding the squad, according to Karthik. The all-rounder has led India in nine T20 Internationals, winning six of them. India’s loss against New Zealand in the first T20I of the ongoing series was just his second loss as a captain. Notably, the Men in Blue haven’t lost a T20I series under Pandya’s captaincy.

“For the moment, I do believe that Hardik has done a phenomenal job. Case in point being the T20 that was played against Sri Lanka in Mumbai. That was a great game. Stopping Sri Lanka for 160 was a terrific effort on a day where there was little dew. He showed his captaincy prowess there,” said Karthik.

Karthik was all praises for the all-rounder, not just for his captaincy skills but also for his performances in both departments. Karthik also spoke about Pandya’s readiness to face new challenges with the bat and the ball. While being a regular middle-order batter, Pandya has recently been opening India’s assault with the new ball.

“He lives for the big games. After Virat Kohli, if I have seen somebody who wants those big games, it is Hardik Pandya. You would have to put Bumrah on that list as well. As a batter, Hardik Pandya loves those big occasions. That is why you would see in bilaterals he is not too fussed about whether he is batting consistently. As a bowler also, he is somebody who wants to fill in those holes wherever it is whether it be in the middle orders. We saw him bowling very well with the new ball as well. That is something he enjoys,” said Karthik.

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