Kiran More unsure about Hardik Pandya's T20I captaincy future

The former India wicketkeeper-batter Kiran More isn’t sure about Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s immediate T20I captaincy future after Rohit Sharma was appointed India’s skipper for the upcoming series against Afghanistan as well. However, he expects Hardik to return to the team as soon as he gets fit and available.

Notably, India will take on Afghanistan in three T20Is, with the first game to be played in Mohali on Thursday, January 11. While Hardik was unavailable for selection due to his ankle injury, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned in the 16-member Indian squad, with the former at the helm.

During a discussion on Sports 18, More said: “Firstly, Hardik needs to get fit. He needs to start playing cricket first, that’s extremely necessary. Once he does that, Hardik Pandya definitely ticks all the boxes. He has also been the captain earlier.”

However, the former India wicketkeeper-batter was not sure about the selectors’ thinking regarding captaincy. And, Hardik will be back playing for India once he proves his fitness as well. And, Hardik is unlikely to play in India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against England even if he is fit and available.

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And, IPL 2024 will give him the best opportunity to prove his fitness before the global event.

“We don’t know the selectors’ thinking, what has gone on inside, but Hardik will come into the team as soon as he gets fit. He needs to play matches before the World Cup. We don’t know when he will start, probably in the IPL, but he is preparing hard. He is the world’s top all-rounder and every team will want to have him,” he added.

Kiran More also opined on whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s return means that they will definitely play in the T20 World Cup. He stated that their return is great news for Indian cricket.

“They have been selected based on their recent form. Your (selectors) thinking changed slightly after two years. I don’t know what their thinking was earlier but both gave fantastic performances in the World Cup and looked in form in the South Africa series as well,” he concluded. “The way Rohit Sharma captained in the World Cup and we reached the final as well, he played exceptional innings, the aggression he showed, so the thinking changed slightly. So both have been recalled and it is very good news for Indian cricket.”