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NEW DELHI: Team India have clinched back-to-back ICC titles — the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 — and will now turn their attention to the next big assignments in 2027: the ICC ODI World Cup and the ICC World Test Championship. Both titles in the past year came under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, but with the 37-year-old’s future uncertain, it remains to be seen whether he will lead the team in 2027.
With Rohit already retired from T20Is, the biggest question facing Indian cricket is: who takes over the leadership baton?
Currently, Suryakumar Yadav is leading the T20I side, while Shubman Gill is serving as the vice-captain in ODIs.
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However, 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has made his preference clear, backing Hardik Pandya to lead India in white-ball formats.
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“To me, Hardik Pandya is my white ball captain. There are many contenders for the post but Pandya is my choice,” Kapil said at an event.
“Pandya is relatively young and can build a team around him for the next ICC events,” he added.
Pandya is currently active only in white-ball formats for India, having last played a Test match over six years ago.
“Ideally, Hardik should also play Test cricket and since he isn’t playing, India will need multiple captains for the three formats,” Kapil said.
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