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Jasprit Bumrah is emerging as a prime contender for the vice-captaincy of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup, slated to commence on October 5. This move comes as he is pitted against the vibrant all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, who recently took up the mantle of T20I captaincy.
While Pandya's captaincy has been showcased in the T20I format, Bumrah’s return to international cricket during the current T20I series against Ireland has heightened discussions about his leadership potential. His prior experience as a captain for the Test team in 2022 and his tenure as ODI vice-captain during the South African tour before Pandya solidifies his standing.
A BCCI insider, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told PTI, “Given Bumrah's leadership seniority over Pandya, one shouldn’t be taken aback if he is appointed as the ODI vice-captain supporting Rohit Sharma for both the Asia Cup and World Cup. His recent captaincy in Ireland over Ruturaj hints towards this possibility.”
However, Pandya's leadership in the IPL is commendable. As the captain of Gujarat Titans, he steered the team to victory in their debut season in 2022 and to a commendable second-place finish in 2023. Yet, many believe that the strategic acumen of Ashish Nehra, a former cricketer, has significantly contributed to the Titans' achievements.
But Pandya’s captaincy in the Indian team hasn’t been without criticism. His debut bilateral series as a T20I captain against the West Indies ended in defeat. Some of his tactical decisions during the series, particularly omitting Axar Patel from the bowling lineup and introducing Mukesh Kumar during crucial phases, raised eyebrows in the cricketing fraternity.
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