Not Rohit Sharma, not Suryakumar Yadav! Kapil Dev reveals who should captain Team India

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 6, 2025, 20:17 IST

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Team India secured victories in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy under Rohit Sharma's leadership. With Rohit's future uncertain, Kapil Dev supports Hardik Pandya as the new white-ball captain, citing his youth and team-building potential for upcoming ICC events. Hardik Pandya is currently active only in white-ball formats for India, having last played a Test match over six years ago.

Not Rohit Sharma, not Suryakumar Yadav! Kapil Dev reveals who should captain Team India

Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Team India have clinched back-to-back ICC titles — the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 — and will now turn their attention to the next big assignments in 2027: the ICC ODI World Cup and the ICC World Test Championship. Both titles in the past year came under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, but with the 37-year-old’s future uncertain, it remains to be seen whether he will lead the team in 2027.With Rohit already retired from T20Is, the biggest question facing Indian cricket is: who takes over the leadership baton?

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Currently, Suryakumar Yadav is leading the T20I side, while Shubman Gill is serving as the vice-captain in ODIs.

Also See: IPL Live Score, SRH vs GTHowever, 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has made his preference clear, backing Hardik Pandya to lead India in white-ball formats.

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Who do you think should lead Team India in the white-ball formats after Rohit Sharma?

OtherShubman GillSuryakumar YadavHardik Pandya

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“To me, Hardik Pandya is my white ball captain. There are many contenders for the post but Pandya is my choice,” Kapil said at an event.“Pandya is relatively young and can build a team around him for the next ICC events,” he added.Pandya is currently active only in white-ball formats for India, having last played a Test match over six years ago.“Ideally, Hardik should also play Test cricket and since he isn't playing, India will need multiple captains for the three formats,” Kapil said.

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