In an exclusive interview with Sports Tak, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh lauded Hardik Pandya's match-winning performance against Pakistan in the second match of the ongoing Asia Cup and touted the Indian all-rounder as the next captain of the national team. Hardik put on an absolute all-round masterclass against the Men in Green in India's opening match of the Asia Cup 2022.
The right-arm pacer first bagged 3/25 in four overs, including a key wicket of Mohammad Rizwan, and then played a match-winning knock of 33 not out in 17 balls to ensure a five-wicket win for the Men in Blue. The swashbuckling right-handed batter finished the game in style by depositing Mohammad Nawaz's delivery into the stands.
"He should become captain, I think he will become captain. He has shown a different aspect of himself. He has become like an MS Dhoni-kind of a guy. He is very calm and composed. He is batting very well. It comes when one has belief in one's ability," Harbhajan told Sports Tak.
"When he goes out to bat, there is a different level of swag. He has worked so hard and returned to action that he knows he will be able to do the job and win games for India. I do see him becoming captain of India. The way he showcased his temperament during the match against Pakistan, and during the IPL as well, he was brilliant. I think he has got all the capabilities to be the national team's captain going forward," Harbhajan added in the interaction which happened after the India-Pakistan match," he added.
Hardik led Gujarat Titans to Indian Premier League (IPL) glory in just the franchise's debut season earlier in the year and displayed his credentials as a captain. Moving forward, the all-rounder will be key for Team India with two big-ticket ICC events scheduled to be played in the next 10 months.
