Hardik Pandya is set to lead the Indian T20I team in the upcoming series against West Indies, and according to former India opener Aakash Chopra, this implies that Pandya is likely to take charge until the T20 World Cup next year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced India’s squad for the five-match T20I series in the Caribbean Islands and the United States, with Pandya as captain and Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy. Notably, senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been left out of the T20I side once again.
The squad for the tour includes several young players, highlighting the team’s emphasis on building for the future. Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Tilak Verma are among the talented young batters, while Sanju Samson, who had a successful Indian Premier League (IPL) season, finally gets a chance to showcase his skills on the international stage. The pace battery consists of youngsters Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, and Mukesh Kumar, along with experienced player Arshdeep Singh. Wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, along with Ravi Bishnoi, have also been given the opportunity to prove themselves.
Aakash Chopra believes that the decision to make Pandya the captain for the T20I side indicates a long-term plan, with the all-rounder expected to lead India until the T20 World Cup in the West Indies next year. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the T20I plans for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It is likely that they will be given a rest from T20Is until this year’s ODI World Cup, after which further decisions will be made regarding their roles in the shortest format of the game.
I feel they had already moved in that direction and it is still the same, nothing has changed. None of the seniors have been picked. KL Rahul is unavailable but now it is extended that you have not played Rohit and Kohli since the World Cup, Chopra stated.
The series against West Indies, which consists of five T20I matches, will kick off on August 3 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. Prior to the T20Is, there will be two Tests and three ODIs between the two teams.
The selection of a young and dynamic squad for the T20I series against West Indies signifies India’s focus on nurturing and grooming young talent. With Pandya at the helm, the team will look to make a mark in the series and further solidify their plans for the future. It remains to be seen how Pandya performs as captain and whether he can lead the team to success not only in this series but also in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
