Hardik Pandya is one of the most impactful cricketers in T20 internationals. His ability to win matches with the bat and the ball makes him a valuable asset for India in the white-ball format. He is among the best all-rounders in the game right now. That’s why India made him the vice-captain in the white-ball format.
Hardik Pandya even played a crucial role for India in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in both departments. He was considered the next white-ball captain for India after Rohit. But recently, some media reports confirmed that India, under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, is looking to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain. Hence, we will talk about three strong reasons why Hardik Pandya is more deserving to be T20I captain than Suryakumar.
Three Reasons why Hardik Pandya is a better choice for T20I captaincy than Suryakumar Yadav
1. Adds more Value to them
Without a doubt, Suryakumar Yadav is a beast when it comes to the T20I format and has been among the top ranked Indian batters for a while now. But he has his limitations, not in terms of batting but in terms of his contribution. With the bat, if he had odd days, he might not be able to do much. But with Hardik Pandya, you get everything. You will see him batting, bowling, and fielding, and that’s what you need as a leader, who can perform in every department.
2. Performance in Big Stage
If we look at some of the last few ICC events, we will see that Hardik Pandya has been more consistent and has done well with the bat and the ball both. That’s what you need from your captain, who should know how to perform on the big stage. Even in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Hardik scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57 and also took 11 wickets with the ball, while Suryakumar scored 199 runs. Hence, if we consider his performance in ICC events, Hardik has a clear edge.
3. Captaincy Experience
Leave everything aside. India have been one of the strongest teams in the world, and you need a player who has captaincy experience. Hardik, who has led Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in the IPL and has also done captaincy for India, is a more experienced leader as compared to Suryakumar. The all-rounder knows how to take decisions under pressure and do well because he has been in the captain’s shoes many times.
Also Read: 3 Reasons why Suryakumar Yadav is a Perfect Choice for India’s T20I Captain