Reports: Hardik Pandya frontrunner to replace Rohit Sharma as ODI captain post World Cup 2023

The Indian team has started off their 2023 really well. After registering a T20I series win against Sri Lanka, the Men in Blue defeated the Islanders in a three-match ODI series as well before taking on New Zealand. Things have been going well for the Men in Blue, but there have been questions regarding Rohit Sharma’s role as the skipper.

The opening batter has missed most of India’s games since taking over the captaincy. He led the team recently at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia but failed to take India into the finals as they crashed out in the semi-finals upon losing to England. Of late, the management has been trying captaincy options too, and Hardik Pandya has been given several responsibilities in the team.

After the World Cup, he led India against New Zealand and Sri Lanka and won both the T20I series. Even with KL Rahul on the side, he was named Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the Sri Lanka ODIs. And now, as per reports, it has come to notice that the BCCI is looking at Pandya as a full-time captain, to succeed Rohit in the ODIs.

No better option than him to be looked at post Rohit: Senior official

Although there has been no formal announcement, Hardik is likely to captain India in the forthcoming T20 World Cup in 2024, and the ODI duty may fall to him after the 2023 World Cup.

“Right now, Rohit is the man to lead India in the World Cup this year but we must plan about what next. Just can’t wait for things to happen and then react. Just in case Rohit decides to let go of the ODI format or captaincy post the 2023 World Cup, we need to have a plan in place,” a senior board official was quoted as saying to News18 Cricketnext.

Hardik, whose reputation as a skipper is only growing, is the strong frontrunner to succeed Rohit as captain in the ODI format. The all-rounder made a name for himself as a captain thanks to his achievements with Gujarat Titans during their first Indian Premier League season in 2022, and he has done a great job leading in T20Is recently.

“Hardik is doing well as captain. He is young and will only get better. For now, there is no better option than him to be looked at post Rohit. He must be backed and given a long and consistent rope,” the official added.

The Men in Blue have only lost one of the eight T20Is he has captained India in. India recently defeated Sri Lanka in a T20I series, winning 2-1, and will now play a T20I series against New Zealand. While Rohit will captain the team for the ODIs at home, Hardik will continue to captain the team in the shorter format.

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