Hardik Pandya is all set to be appointed as the vice-captain of the team for the upcoming 20-20 world cup in Australia. The all-rounder has had a dramatic turnaround in his career since the Indian T20 league 2022. Pandya led the Gujarat Franchise to become the champions of the league in their debut season.
The Gujarat franchise captain also had a brilliant season with the bat as he scored 487 runs in 15 innings at an average of 44 and a magnificent strike rate of 131. He also scored four half-centuries in the season and picked up eight wickets with the ball with a decent economy rate of 7.28.
The 28-year-old carried his brilliant form into international cricket as he shined in the home T20I series against South Africa in June for which he was also appointed the vice-captain for the first time. Hardik was appointed the captain of the team for the following tour of Ireland where he led a young side to a 2-0 series win. He further added his name to the record books with his scintillating all-round performance in the first T20I against England in July. He became the first ever Indian player to score a half-century and pick up four wickets in the same match hence being awarded the ‘Player of the Match’.
“Hardik is a world-class player and it’s great to have him back in the team at full fitness. Whether he will be named vice-captain is up to the selectors. But he is already a leader in the group. As an all-rounder, he understands both situations. He has outstanding leadership skills and we saw that in the ITL. He will surely do well,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport.
Pandya is currently the vice-captain for the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies. It will be interesting to see if he gets to retain the vice-captaincy when KL Rahul makes a return to the team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament set to begin on August 27.
