'Though I would like to see him in the playing XI, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will open the batting for the team.'
The just-concluded Asia Cup was deeply saturated with off-field drama. But even amidst the bedlam, there were sparks of brilliance, emergence of new stars and tears of failure.
The cricketing ecosystem has learned to survive the prolonged absence of Kohli and Rohit -- at least in two formats -- in this interim period.
The 29-year-old Hardik will lead the Indian team for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja were among the first ones to reach India.
"With Shubman, our vision is not limited to one or two seasons; it's long-term" - Gujarat Titans COO Colonel Arvinder Singh, on choosing Gill as captain over senior players
Styris did not have any doubt over Pandya's talent but the Kiwi wanted him to infuse more consistency into his performances.
'Hardik has been phenomenal in the way he has been playing for the team. That is what we need at some point. Sometimes it is me, sometimes it is other guys.'
Suryakumar Yadav will captain Mumbai Indians in their opening IPL match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday said star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was still recuperating from a back injury and that the team was waiting for him to be cleared by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer expressed his disappointment with fans trolling Indian all-rounder and Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya for his poor performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), saying that during the T20 World Cup starting from June 1 in West Indies and USA, the all-rounder will play some crucial knocks and the trolls will be singing his praise.
Suryakumar offers a more dependable option. Despite being 33, his fitness record inspires confidence.
'The all-rounder was taken for scans and is advised rest. He will be under the constant supervision of the BCCI Medical Team. He will not be taking the flight to Dharamsala with the team on 20th October and will now join the team directly in Lucknow where India play England.'
In 2023, the BCCI announced a deal with Dream11 as the lead sponsor for Team India. Dream11 replaced Byju's, whose contract ended in March that year, and had signed the agreement with BCCI for a period of three years.
Despite the missed opportunity to take the lead in the five-match series, Pandya showcased a composed and optimistic outlook for the Indian cricket team.
Hardik marked his homecoming with a puja inside the dressing room.
'Just as Cricket Australia manages Mitchell Starc's workload to preserve him for key series and tournaments, the BCCI should ensure that our premier fast bowler is preserved for the most important contests.'
Yuvraj Singh hailed Rohit Sharma as the leader of the Indian team.
'Hardik is also a part of leading group. When we sit, we decide what we want to do in the game going forward and also on the field. He is always around. It's like we have a lot of captains on the ground.'
Hardik Pandya has quit Gujarat Titans to rejoin his former team Mumbai Indians, following a trade between the two franchises.
'If I was the chairman of the selection committee, I would say that Hardik Pandya should be the captain of the 2024 World Cup straight away.'
Young Ishan Kishan along with Hardik Pandya pulled the Indian team out of a tough situation to register a record stand against Pakistan during their Asia Cup encounter on Saturday.
India's long tail was questioned after the loss in the first two games of the five-match series against West Indies.
Both Morgan and Watson believe Rohit Sharma's team has the necessary firepower to win the title.
Gujarat Titans Captain Hardik Pandya and his elder brother Krunal Pandya, who plays for the Lucknow Super Giants, recently engaged in a one-on-one mini-cricket battle inside their home.
Drawing inspiration from The Beatles, the Titans referred to the son and father as 'The Pandyas'.
Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians has been a hot topic of discussion. After leading the Gujarat Titans for two years, Hardik is not only back in the Mumbai colours, but he's also set to take over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma.
Rajasthan Royals will face Mumbai Indians in a crucial Indian Premier League match on Thursday, looking to halt the five-time champions' surging momentum.
Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya hit fifties to rally India in the rain-hit Asia Cup match in Pallekele on Saturday.
'The whole season kind of went wrong. We can pass this game as another one (that went wrong)'
Pathan also opined on problems around finishers and the team's pace bowling unit.
A dominant India beat Pakistan by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare in the Asia Cup matchg in Dubai on Sunday.
But in their pursuit of glory, both leaders must find a way to address the issues at hand.
'My message to all the young guns who are joining Mumbai Indians this year is that if you are here, you have that spark, you have that talent, which the scouts have seen.'
When the Indian team entered the ICC Cricket Academy Arena for their evening net session ahead of the Asia Cup, Samson was the first to start his solo keeping drills with fielding coach T Dilip, even as others were just about lumbering up.
'This team, what it has achieved, it has achieved under him and I just have to carry forward that. He is going to have his hand on my shoulders.'
Pat Cummins captured the sentiment perfectly, calling this potentially the 'last chance' for fans Down Under to witness these legends in action. With both stalwarts set to be 39 and 40 respectively by the 2027 World Cup, every appearance carries added significance. Ro-Ko have been the heartbeat of Indian cricket for over 15 years. Their return brings an emotional lift to the team and raises expectations for the series against the world champions.
Punjab Kings' players and owners were ecstatic as Captain Shreyas Iyer's match-winning powered them to victory against the Mumbai Indians.
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