India Should Look for Consistency in Leadership Before T20 World Cup 

India has only 5 matches left before the start of the T20 World Cup 2024, which will take place in June next year. A major question surrounding this event for India is both the team combination and, most importantly, who will lead the team and captain the side.

Previously, the role was played by Rohit Sharma, and then Hardik Pandya took over. However, at this moment, it seems the BCCI is neither fully committed nor interested in continuing with a specific individual.

Just two days ago, BCCI Chief Secretary Jay Shah confirmed that there is no discussion or confirmation about who will lead India at the T20 World Cup 2024.

There is no doubt that leadership plays a big role in the fast-paced format of T20 cricket. A T20 captain needs to make quick strategic decisions, as matches can be won or lost within a few overs.

Currently, Suryakumar Yadav is doing a good job for India, having led the team in the last 5 games against Australia. However, these were home games, and Australia was not playing at full strength. The real challenge will start in South Africa, where the first match was abandoned due to rain.

With only 5 matches left, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to lead in all of them. However, the question remains: if the BCCI is not committed to long-term leadership, what was the point of giving him the captaincy in the first place? Leadership needs consistent backing, and it seems the management isn’t fully focused on T20 cricket for India at the moment.

Without a clear leadership plan, there is a lot of shifting happening within the team, which is not ideal. This could be more than just resting players. The positive aspect is the attempt to build a young team with new players like Yashasi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma. These talented players have performed well in domestic cricket and are now getting their chance.

Should the BCCI look for leadership among youngsters?

If they want to build a strong future for Indian cricket, they should definitely consider it. There are plenty of options available, including Shubman Gill, who might be given the captaincy soon.

Coming back to the current team, there is no better choice than Shreyas Iyer. He has plenty of leadership experience, having led the Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. He should be the first choice for captaincy.

If the BCCI is looking for a long-term young leader, they need to make a commitment now. This is not just about this World Cup but about building a strong future for Indian cricket.

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Why not Rohit Sharma?

While Rohit Sharma has impressive statistics as a leader, winning 85% of his matches (24 wins out of 28), his age (36) raises questions about how long he can continue playing. He might retire within the next year or two.

However, Rohit Sharma is a natural leader with exceptional talent. He has set a selfless example for youngsters in the last few years, which is crucial for any team. His leadership was valuable even though India lost the 2023 World Cup.

There were still plenty of positives, especially in how Rohit Sharma led the team from the front. He was selfless and focused on what was best for the team. This is the kind of leadership that is needed, regardless of wins or losses.

The assumption says it will be Suryakumar Yadav to Hardik Pandya 

For now, Suryakumar Yadav is leading the side. When Hardik Pandya returns, the captaincy will likely shift to him. However, Hardik’s injury history is a concern. He often misses games for long stretches due to injuries. It will be interesting to see how he performs upon his return in the Afghanistan T20 series and whether he can play as an all-rounder or only as a batter.

While Hardik Pandya has done a good job for India, he needs more time to develop as a leader. It’s important to show trust and clarity in leadership choices. Picking a leader for a few months and then changing based on performance is not the right approach. Leaders need to be backed, not chosen based on short-term results.

There are many potential leaders in the current team, with Shreyas Iyer as the first choice. It’s important for the BCCI to make a clear decision and stick with it to build a strong and successful team for the future.