Hardik Pandya is expected to lead the Indian cricket side after India’s horrendous performance in ODI WC 2023. According to sources with knowledge, the Ajit Agarkar led selection panel has moved on from the star duo of Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli in the white ball leg. Rohit Sharma doesn’t have age on his side which may be a concern for him with multiple ICC events aligned up.
KL Rahul has also emerged as a leader of the side after a pretty good ODI WC 2023. We should also not rule out the fact that Hardik Pandya is quite injury prone and is also ruled out of the South African white ball leg series. The Ajit Agarkar led selection panel will have to be smart if the side wants to win T20 WC 2024.
IPL 2024 would serve as a stepping stone for T20 WC 2024. There have been talks going on that the flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya would change his base from GT to his former side MI. If there is change in leadership in both the camps of MI & GT, then it would be quite historic as Rohit Sharma as a leader has won IPL for a record 5 times.
Hardik Pandya needs to give the respect to Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli- Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar was having an interaction with Zee News. Shoaib Akhtar was quite sure that Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli have cricket left in him. Shoaib Akhtar said that Hardik Pandya needs to give respect to Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli and said that the two needs to be given due respect before they are let go.
“If you ask do Rohit and Kohli have cricket left in them? Yes, definitely. Do you get a better opener than Rohit in the world right now? No, you don’t,” said Shoaib Akhtar.
“When Dhoni came, he gave respect to Sachin Tendulkar. When Virat came, he respected Dhoni. When Rohit replaced Virat, he also gave him respect. So, now it’s up to Hardik Pandya how he wants to send these two great players off. It’s up to him now to put his put down. And he has to bid them goodbye respectfully. They deserve this respect,” said Shoaib Akhtar.
“I’m maybe putting pressure on Hardik Pandya through this but he needs to give that respect to Rohit and Kohli. He is in the team because of them. The kind of favours he has got in the team from them should be repaid. And they are legends of Indian cricket, so they should be given due respect before they are let go,” he added.