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Hardik Pandya celebrates a wicket during the T20 World Cup Final
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Harsha Bhogle, a respected voice in cricket commentary, has shed light on the evolving role of Hardik Pandya within the Indian cricket team.

Bhogle revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian team management have placed considerable trust in Pandya. They have instructed him to play in all upcoming white-ball matches.

This comes after the recent Sri Lanka tour where Pandya was removed as T20 vice captain by the Indian selectors who explained that they were looking for fit and available cricketers to captain the side. They subsequently named Suryakumar Yadav as the captain.

However, Bhogle feels that Pandya is being closely watched for his performance and fitness and SKY is only being tested as a captain. If he fails the test, Pandya could once again be the captain.

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What did Harsha Bhogle say on Hardik Pandya becoming the captain of India?

According to Bhogle, the BCCI continues to view Pandya as a strong contender for the captaincy in the Indian limited-overs team.

"Hardik Pandya has been asked to play all white ball games. The captaincy door is open for him; they are just testing Suryakumar Yadav," Bhogle stated.

The team management seems to be using this period to evaluate all options, but the door to captaincy is far from closed for Pandya.

Reports indicate that Pandya's career in red ball cricket might be nearing its end, with the BCCI seemingly keen on focusing his energies on the white ball formats. The decision to have Pandya play in every white ball game reflects the management’s strategy to keep him in prime condition for the leadership role

Is Suryakumar Yadav in testing phase?

While Pandya is being groomed for a potential leadership role, Suryakumar Yadav is currently being tested as a T20 captain. Bhogle pointed out that this is a trial phase, and the BCCI has not made any final decisions.

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"They are just testing Suryakumar Yadav," Bhogle remarked, indicating that Suryakumar’s captaincy is being evaluated as part of a broader strategy.

Hardik Pandya is at a crucial juncture in his cricketing career. The next few months will be vital in determining whether Pandya can step up to lead the Indian team once again.

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Author(s)
Divy Dubey Photo

Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.