Indian national cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has come under scrutiny and things are not going his way. The best batsman has been left out of the starting XI for the ongoing fifth Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy being held at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

Rohit Sharma's future as India's captain has become a topic of discussion in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Given Rohit's recent struggles in Test cricket and his decision to sit out the fifth Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the question of his leadership role in One-Dayers has also made headlines.

As a result, the BCCI has reportedly started exploring leadership alternatives for India ahead of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Among the potential candidates, Hardik Pandya is considered a strong contender to lead the Men in Blue in the tournament.

Hardik Pandya is considered the favourite to lead the Men in Blue in the high-profile ICC tournament. A source quoted "Hardik has the talent to lead in high-pressure situations and his experience as an all-rounder and leader makes him an ideal choice for an ICC tournament like the Champions Trophy."

Pandya has time and again proved his mettle as a captain, leading India in white-ball formats and proving his leadership qualities in the last three seasons in the IPL. His ability to perform under pressure combined with his all-round skills makes him a well-balanced choice to lead India in ODIs.

Rohit retired from 20-over international cricket in 2024 after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup, making way for Suryakumar Yadav. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has been identified as a potential leader for India in the red-ball format after his successful stint as captain in Perth.

While other players like Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are also being considered, Hardik's leadership in pressure situations gives him the edge. Gill reportedly needs more time to mature as a leader and Suryakumar Yadav is yet to earn his place in the ODI side.

"Gill needs more nurturing to mature into a leader and SKY's ODI performances have not been convincing enough. Hardik remains the most balanced option to lead India in ODIs if Rohit is unavailable," the report added.