Hardik Pandya asked to be made Indian Captain for Upcoming World Cups

Rohit Sharma is nearing the end of his white-ball captaincy tenure, and attention has shifted to who might take over the leadership reins for India in limited-overs cricket. Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev said that there are many contenders for the post but backed Hardik Pandya to lead the national cricket team.

Hardik Pandya was expected to succeed Rohit Sharma as India’s T20I captain following their T20 World Cup 2024 win. However, the selectors picked Suryakumar Yadav to lead the side. Axar Patel was named vice-captain for the recent T20I series against England, despite Pandya being part of the squad.

Hardik Pandya Is My White-Ball Captain - Kapil Dev

In a conversation with MyKhel, Kapil Dev shared his personal choice for India’s next limited-overs captain. The former World Cup-winning skipper backed Hardik Pandya for the role, stating that he is the best choice among several strong contenders.

"To me, Hardik Pandya is my white ball captain. There are many contenders for the post, but Pandya is my choice," Kapil Dev said during a PGTI pro-am event in Greater Noida on Saturday (April 5).

Hardik has captained India in 16 T20Is, securing 10 victories and one tied result. The selectors appointed Suryakumar Yadav as the full-time T20I captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format. Shubman Gill was the vice-captain during India’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Can Build a Team Around Him for the Next ICC Events - Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev lauded the all-rounder for his growth and maturity in recent years. He noted that Pandya’s age and leadership qualities make him a strong candidate to guide the team through upcoming ICC tournaments, adding that it’s hard to look beyond him for the captaincy role.

"Pandya is relatively young and can build a team around him for the next ICC events," Kapil said.

Hardik was Rohit Sharma’s deputy during the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. He was also the vice-captain during the 2023 ODI World Cup but had to withdraw from the tournament midway due to injury. Pandya is currently in the vice-captain position in any format.

India Will Need Multiple Captains for Three Formats - Kapil Dev

The former Indian captain also said that India is unlikely to have a single captain across all three formats. He mentioned that while Hardik Pandya is his preferred choice for white-ball leadership, his absence from Test cricket means India will need different captains for each format.

"Ideally, Hardik should also play Test cricket, and since he isn't playing, India will need multiple captains for the three formats," he said.

Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, commenced their IPL 2025 season with a four-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings. He scored 11 off 17 balls against Gujarat Titans and added 28 off 16 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. Pandya took eight wickets at an average of 9.38, with best figures of 5/36.

Also read: Jasprit Bumrah joins Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025