Ravi Shastri backs the move to replace Rohit Sharma as India’s T20I captain

Former Indian team coach, Ravi Shastri picks his ideal Rohit Sharma replacement as captain.

Gujarat Titans captain and five-time IPL winner Hardik Pandya, according to Ravi Shashtri, would be the perfect fit as captain. Following India’s disastrous ouster from the World T20, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is under intense scrutiny, and it is safe to assume his job is on the line as a result of the horror show in the semis.

India is now in New Zealand for a white-ball series, during which players like Rohit, Rahul, and Virat are resting. Dhawan will captain the one-day team, while Hardik will captain the T20 series.

Earlier this year, in the absence of all-format leader Rohit, the white-ball renegade was also named India’s stand-in skipper for the Ireland T20Is.

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes there is ‘no harm’ in appointing a new leader of the Asian giants after the T20 World Cup, with Pandya emerging as a strong contender to become full-time captain of the Men In Blue. 

Ravi Shastri’s words on Rohit’s departure

“For T20 cricket, there is no harm in having a new captain,” Shastri made the remarks during an engagement hosted by Prime Video in the run-up to India’s first Twenty20 International against New Zealand.

“Because the volume of cricket is such, that for one player to play all three formats of the game is never going to be easy. If Rohit is already leading in Tests and ODIs, there is no harm in identifying a new T20I captain and if his name is Hardik Pandya, so be it,” the former Indian head coach added.

“I think that is the way forward. I think VVS is right. They will identify specialists. Going forward, that should be the mantra. Identify and make that Indian side into a terrific fielding side and identify roles for these youngsters who can be fearless and play that kind of cricket without any kind of baggage,” Shastri added.