Dinesh Karthik raises question on Hardik Pandya’s removal from vice captaincy in T20Is

New Delhi: Dinesh Karthik, a former Indian cricketer and current commentator, has raised concerns regarding Hardik Pandya’s dismissal from the vice-captaincy of the Indian T20I team. Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20 cricket after the 2024 World Cup, Pandya was unexpectedly overlooked for the captaincy, with Suryakumar Yadav appointed as the new leader.

Pandya was not selected as the team’s vice-captain, with Shubman Gill taking on the role as Suryakumar’s deputy for India’s initial series following the T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka. Although Gill was dropped from the T20I squad, the selectors chose not to appoint a vice-captain for the subsequent two series against Bangladesh and South Africa.

The team has appointed all-rounder Axar Patel as the new vice-captain for the forthcoming series against England. This decision puzzled Karthik, who believed there was no justification for not selecting Pandya for the vice-captain role.

“I really don’t know. I don’t know why he (Hardik) was stripped of his vice-captaincy. I don’t see any reason to. They have done well. They have won in the bilaterals that he was the vice-captain. Not a clue,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

Pandya took on the role of captain for the Indian T20I team following their semi-final elimination from the T20 World Cup 2022. During his tenure, he led the team in 16 games, achieving 11 wins and five losses. However, with Rohit Sharma’s return to the T20I squad shortly before the 2024 World Cup, Pandya was relieved of his captaincy duties.

After Rohit retired from T20Is following India’s victory in the 2024 World Cup, it was anticipated that Pandya would take over as captain. However, the selectors chose Suryakumar Yadav as the new leader and did not designate the all-rounder as vice-captain.

During a press conference, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the rationale behind Suryakumar’s selection, noting the team’s need for a player who is frequently available. Additionally, although Hardik Pandya has not been viewed as a candidate for leadership positions, he has been delivering strong performances, having been named Player of the Series in India’s 3-0 win against Bangladesh in October 2024.

The all-rounder played a crucial role in India’s victory at the T20 World Cup in 2024 and remains an essential part of the team because of his versatile abilities.