2024 T20 World Cup: Delhi Capitals (DC) wicketkeeper batter and captain Rishabh Pant is very much in contention to lead the Team India being the side’s vice-captain in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. The reports published on Cricbuzz indicated that the Indian selectors are likely to mull over and form a decision.
With all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s stocks declining owing to his poor form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant has once again emerged as a key player for the selectors, who can be handed the vice-captaincy role in the Indian side.
Notably, Pant held a similar role back in 2022, however, a horrible car accident brought him to square one once again. He had to distance himself from cricket for over a year, before making a comeback in the IPL 2024.
It has been an incredible resurrection of Rishabh Pant in the IPL so far. From being in the headlines as to whether he would be able to make it to the Indian side for the upcoming T20 World Cup, to being discussed by the selectors as a serious candidate to become Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the coveted tournament, the southpaw has certainly taken giant strides in the last few weeks.
The Indian selection committee led by chairman Ajit Agarkar are set to meet on May 1, where the matter will be discussed between the selectors and Indian management.
However, the decision to appoint Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain of Team India won’t be a cakewalk for the selectors, with another potential candidate Hardik Pandya in the fray, who also has held the reins of the Indian T20I team in the past.
Hardik Pandya’s stock decline as a leader in Team India
While Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya is also in contention, his recent exploits in the IPL 2024 may go against him as the selectors make a decision.
Hardik hasn’t been able to showcase his best form in the IPL 2024 so far. Moreover, the captaincy has also been poor and often he has been criticised by the pundits for not utilising his resources wisely.
While Hardik Pandya’s place in the Indian team as an all-rounder can be confirmed, as Team India sweats to find another worthy replacement option, his appointment as the vice-captain is highly questionable and the discussions around which will be held on May 1.
It’s noteworthy that Hardik Pandya expressed his disappointment with his statement after the game against Delhi Capitals in Arun Jaitely Stadium pointing out his teammate’s ‘lack of game sense,’ which, according to him, became one of the reasons for Mumbai’s loss against Delhi by 10 runs.
However, it remains to be seen what the Indian selectors and management think over the issue. It will be interesting to watch who they back as the vice-captain of Team India for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, which begins on June 1.