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Aakash Chopra believes Hardik Pandya will not be considered for T20 World Cup 2024 captaincy

The Indian cricket scene is abuzz with a single, burning question: will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies? These star batsmen haven’t donned the blue jersey in the shortest format since November 2022, after India’s heartbreaking semi-final defeat in the previous edition. Back then, the board prioritized their workload, opting to keep them fresh for Tests and ODIs.

While Rohit Sharma remains India’s official T20I captain, Hardik Pandya has filled the void in his absence, leading the team through a string of matches. However, a persistent cloud of uncertainty hangs over the captaincy situation due to Pandya’s recurring injury woes.

As such, a section of pundits champions Pandya for the World Cup leadership role, highlighting his impressive captaincy stint and all-round dynamism. They argue that his aggressive spirit and tactical acumen could be the X-factor India needs to lift the trophy. However, others raise concerns about his fitness record, fearing that another injury could derail India’s campaign. They advocate for a more reliable leader, one who can consistently anchor the team through the gruelling tournament.

“It’s going against him”

Broadcaster, Aakash Chopra, recently shared his opinion on the matter in a video which he posted on his official YouTube channel. Chopra believes that Pandya will not be considered for leadership because of his tryst with injuries.

“Hardik will probably not be the captain because there is an issue regarding fitness. You are not playing currently. As you twisted your ankle in the World Cup. You are not playing the Afghanistan series and you don’t play Tests in any case, so you will straightaway play the IPL. It’s going against him,” he said.

Chopra also said that according to him, Rohit Sharm will be at the helm of affairs. He said that the tide has shifted in Rohit’s favour because of the way he has led in recent times. He added that the approach that Rohit has played with has also strengthened his case. “I feel Rohit Sharma will be doing T20I captaincy and will also be the captain for the 2024 T20 World Cup. If you had asked this question after the 2022 T20 World Cup, it was almost certain he wouldn’t be the captain, considering the way the team performed as we were scoring 60 runs in the first 10 overs,” Chopra said.