Mohammad Kaif Backs Hardik Pandya for T20I Captaincy Over Suryakumar Yadav
While acknowledging Suryakumar's exceptional batting talent, Kaif felt that Hardik Pandya's leadership experience should have received more weight
Asela MadhusankaEditor
Posted - 2024-07-19T18:23:07+06:00
Updated - 2024-07-19T18:23:07+06:00
In a surprising decision, Suryakumar Yadav was chosen over Hardik Pandya as the captain of India's T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. However, former India batsman Mohammad Kaif believes that Pandya deserves the leadership role in the shortest format of the game.
While acknowledging Suryakumar's exceptional batting talent, Kaif felt that Hardik Pandya's leadership experience should have received more weight.
"Hardik has captained the Gujarat Titans for 2 years and in their first year itself, they made it to the final... Hardik has experience captaining the T20I side. He was also the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup. Now, a new coach has arrived, there will be new planning. Surya is also a good player, he has been playing for years. He is a no.1 T20 player, I hope he will shoulder the captain's responsibility well. But, I feel they should have backed Hardik," Kaif said as quoted by TOI.
Kaif emphasised Hardik's successful captaincy stints, especially with the Gujarat Titans, where he led a young team to victory.
"Gambhir is the experienced captain and coach... He understands cricket very well. I think 'Hardik ne aisa koi galat kaam nahi kia ke unko captaincy na mile' (Hardik has not done anything wrong that he should not get the captaincy)," Kaif continued.
Hardik Pandya has also led India in three ODIs and 16 T20Is. Kaif highlighted the significance of Hardik's leadership in the IPL, particularly with a new team.
"He has experience, has captained in the IPL and leading a new team (Gujarat Titans) to a trophy, with fresh and young faces, is a huge thing. He has made the Titans win by working from Ground Zero in the IPL...I think he was entitled to the captaincy. So let's just wait and see," he added.