Hardik Pandya can expect a friendly reception from the fans at the Wankhede Stadium in IPL 2025 after playing crucial roles in India's T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs.
'Everyone has the right to have an opinion about the culture of that dressing room. And every opinion for me will matter'
In what could be the final chapter of a glittering career, the batting stalwart is now fully focused on the 50-over format and bringing glory to the country in the 2027 ODI World Cup, his childhood coach Dinesh Lad said.
Here's a wrap of all major international episodes in 2024.
Akhtar saw it coming having seen the division in the Indian dressing room during the T20 World Cup.
Virat Kohli's record in T20 Internationals as captain is one of the best in the world, but he finished without a ICC trophy.
Hardik Pandya could take over as India vice-captain in place of KL Rahul, who missed the ongoing five-match T20I series against West Indies after testing positive for COVID-19.
Suryakumar Yadav was named as one of the four nominees for the ICC Men's T20 Cricketer of the Year 2023.
The MI captain has scored 197 runs and taken just four wickets in 10 games with his team languishing in ninth spot.
India won their seventh ICC trophy, while registering their third Champions Trophy triumph.
'T20 is so fast-paced that a coach can do very little from the sidelines, you need a very good captain, who can take decisions there and then.'
England hammered India by 10 wickets with Alex Hales and Jos Buttler striking commanding half-centuries.
Dube has 350 runs in nine outings at a strike rate of 172.41, including three half-centuries.
After taking over the captaincy from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma took the Men in Blue to victory against New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and now England.
'And obviously two losses and being out of the tournament and a bit of hangover of the few tournaments before I think it probably reached the end of the road foe me and my captaincy, is a shame, I'm sad about that.'
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for the third T20I against England on Tuesday?
Lalit Yadav believes he fits the bill to fill the big shoes of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja who called time on his T20I career
Rohit was seen taking a curious victory bite - a mouthful of soil from the very pitch that witnessed India's triumph.
Hardik Pandya hasn't looked back since leading Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their maiden appearance last year. For all the success that's come his way, India's new T20I skipper credits Ashish Nehra, his franchise coach.
Rohit has overtaken former skipper Dhoni as the most successful T20I captain with 49 wins in 62 matches.
Though Kohli had an exciting challenge ahead of him in the five-Test series in England, the end seemed near for India's most successful Test captain.
Pakistan women's cricket team captain Fatima Sana draws inspiration from India's World Cup-winning skipper MS Dhoni
Rahul Dravid's exit as Rajasthan Royals' head coach has more than what meets the eye
Yadav did quite well in 2023 with an average that closed in on 50 and a strike rate exceeding 150.
Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Patel and Arshdeep Singh were the only bright lights in a poor India show at the T20 World Cup.
Big test for India, Eng; minnows likely to shake applecart
However, Rohit maintains that he hasn't taken a call on his T20 future.
'I have a feeling that after a certain transition happens, you could see Rishabh Pant opening the batting for India in T20 cricket.'
India's new Test captain Shubman Gill is a mix of his predecessors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli but he will be 'very much his own man' in the middle, said Jos Buttler.
This Champions Trophy victory further solidifies Rohit and Kohli's legendary status, with both players now boasting four ICC titles each.
"True icon, legend of the game": Raina congratulates Dhoni for "well-deserved" induction into ICC Hall of Fame
'Dhoni will never go to a player and ask him what field you want.' 'He will want the player to learn from his own mistakes.' 'Rohit will put his arm around your shoulder and tell you, "This is what is expected from you, you can do this".'
A look at India's performances in the past seven T20 World Cups.
How did India and Virat Kohli fare in T20Is? Rajneesh Gupta presents all the numbers.
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in the T20 World Cup in June, saying the two senior players are not only the key batters but also terrific fielders in the Indian team.
This slump has affected his overall T20I stats, with his batting average dropping below 40.
In all, Axar has led in 24 matches across all formats, winning 12, losing 10 and two matches ended in a draw.
India start as the big favourites in both the white ball series and it will take a Herculean effort from Sri Lanka to upset the odds.
'I told Sachin that if both of you and Dravid do not want to lead the side, how will we go about things? Then Sachin told me that we have one more player in the country who could lead the side and his name is none other than MS Dhoni.'
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Wednesday's opening T20I against New Zealand?
