Important to groom another T20I captain alongside Hardik Pandya for World Cup: Irfan Pathan

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said it's important that India groom more than one of their stars as potential future captains in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in 2024, stressing the importance of having back-up options. Pathan backed Hardik Pandya as the frontrunner to take over Rohit Sharma in the future as India's T20I captain, but stressed India should look at creating a pool of leaders.

Hardik Pandya is all set to lead India in a 3-match T20I series in New Zealand, starting November 18 in the absence of Rohit Sharma who has been rested for the tour. However, there have been several calls made by former cricketers to appoint Hardik as India's full-time captain for T20Is, keeping in mind the next T20 World Cup, which is two years away.

Irfan Pathan, however, pointed out that Hardik Pandya has had injury issues in the past and it's ideal to have more than one captaincy candidate in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in 2024.

Rohit Sharma took over from Virat Kohli after the latter stepped down as T20I captain following India's early exit at last year's T20 World Cup. However, Rohit was not able to live up to expectations, failing to lead India to glory in the Asia Cup and the ultimate goal at T20 World Cup 2022.

"I’m not saying that if you change the captain you change the result, if you go like that you’re not going to change the result. And with Hardik Pandya, you need to understand, we all need to understand, that he’s a fast bowling all-rounder. He has injury issues as well. What if he is your captain who is getting injured right before the World cup? And if you don’t have any other leader ready, you’ll be in a mess," Irfan said during Star Sports show 'Match Point'.

"So, what I personally think is that Hardik Pandya is a leader, who has done very well in the Gujarat Titians, won IPL, won the championship trophy. You need to find not one, but two leaders going forward to build their mark. You know just like we talk about openers - we need to have a group of openers, we also need to have a group of leaders," he added.

'PANT HAS THE PERSONALITY'

Furthermore, former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop said Rishabh Pant can be a good option to have as a captaincy option, saying he has got the personality.

Pant will travel to New Zealand as Hardik's deputy for the T20Is and was also named as the vice-captain of the ODI team, which will be led by Shikhar Dhawan.

Pant led India in a 5-match T20I series against South Africa at home after IPL 2022.

"Hardik, I was so impressed with what he did in the IPL. In T20 cricket, successful teams need a risk-taker. Gambler is the wrong word but in keeping with the action format and action captain. So I would say Hardik. I don’t if I have seen enough of Rishabh’s improvement. But he has got personality but if you can make him into one of those, I don’t think it would be a bad idea," Bishop said.