Saba Karim Picks Two Future India T20I Captains

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faces the pivotal task of selecting a successor to Rohit Sharma as the T20I captain following his recent retirement from international T20 cricket. Sharma capped off his T20I career triumphantly by guiding the Men in Blue to victory in the T20 World Cup. Saba Karim, a former national selector, emphasized that choosing India's new T20I captain is the immediate challenge for the current selection panel, especially with the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka on the horizon. He suggested that the prime candidates for the prestigious role could be Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. Pandya, who hails from Baroda, is seen by many as the frontrunner due to his experience leading the team in 16 T20Is during Rohit's absence. Additionally, Pandya served as Rohit's deputy during the successful T20 World Cup campaign.

The decision holds significant weight as it marks a critical transition in Indian cricket leadership, with Sharma's departure necessitating a new direction for the T20I squad. Both Pandya and Yadav bring their unique strengths to the table, with Pandya's leadership experience and all-round abilities making a strong case for him. However, Yadav's consistent performances and adaptability in various roles also make him a compelling contender for the captaincy.

"The first thing that needs to be decided is who will captain in T20Is. Rohit Sharma has retired, he won't play T20Is. So you will have a new captain. I feel there are two contenders," former Indian wicket-keeper Saba Karim told Sony Sports.

"If we see logically, Hardik Pandya should become the captain because he was the vice-captain in the winning World Cup campaign. He also captained India in the past. I feel the preparation now should be for the next T20 World Cup which is going to happen after two years," he added. 

Karim, however, believes that Suryakumar Yadav, currently ranked No. 2 in T20I batting, is also a strong contender for the captaincy role. He highlighted Yadav's impressive performances, both with the bat and as a leader, notably recalling his pivotal role in India's commanding 4-1 series victory over Australia in a five-match T20I series at home last year. During that series, Yadav not only showcased his exceptional batting skills but also demonstrated leadership qualities that impressed many within the cricketing fraternity. His ability to handle pressure situations and inspire the team to success underlines his potential as a future captain.

Karim's endorsement of Yadav underscores the diversity of viable options before the BCCI in selecting the next T20I captain. While Hardik Pandya remains a front-runner due to his experience and rapport with the team, Yadav's emergence as a serious candidate highlights the depth of talent and leadership potential within Indian cricket.

"I feel the discussion should be about SKY because Suryakumar Yadav captained India in the home series against Australia. India defeated Australia there and he also batted well. So he can definitely come forward as an option. If the selectors feel Hardik Pandya has played a fantastic role and can do the same as a captain as well, he can definitely be the ideal candidate. So I feel these are the two contenders," Karim concluded.