Not Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah, THIS star cricketer is favourite to lead India in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
New Delhi: Rohit Sharma‘s future as India’s captain is currently under scrutiny within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Following his recent struggles in Test cricket and his decision to opt out of the fifth Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, his leadership role in One-Day Internationals has also become a point of discussion.
As a result, the BCCI has reportedly started evaluating leadership alternatives for India ahead of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Hardik Pandya is emerging as a strong contender to lead the Men in Blue in the tournament.
“Hardik has the ability to lead in high-pressure situations, and his experience as an all-rounder and captain makes him an ideal choice for an ICC tournament like the Champions Trophy,” a source told My Khel, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Rohit Sharma retired from 20-over international cricket in 2024 after leading India to the T20 World Cup title, paving the way for Suryakumar Yadav to take charge. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as a potential leader for India in the red-ball format, following his successful stint as captain in Perth.
Hardik Pandya’s name has consistently been mentioned as a strong contender for India’s leadership role. The all-rounder has led the Indian team successfully in various white-ball formats over the past couple of years and has been captaining the Mumbai Indians in the IPL for the past three seasons.
While other players like Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are also under consideration, Hardik Pandya’s leadership in high-pressure situations gives him an edge. Reports suggest that Gill still requires more time to mature as a leader, and Suryakumar Yadav has yet to cement his spot in the ODI lineup.
The report further added, “Gill needs more grooming to mature into a leader, and SKY’s ODI performances haven’t been convincing enough. Hardik remains the most balanced option to lead India in ODIs, if Rohit is unavailable.”
India’s ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule is as follows
February 20: Bangladesh vs India at 2:30 PM IST in Dubai
February 23: Pakistan vs India at 2:30 PM IST in Dubai
March 2: New Zealand vs India at 2:30 PM IST in Dubai
If India qualifies for the semi-finals, they will play in Semi-final 1. If Pakistan qualifies, they will play in Semi-final 2.
Should India reach the final, it will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.