Former India seamer Irfan Pathan reckons pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was a suitable candidate for India’s vice-captain role at the upcoming T20 World Cup. This, after Hardik Pandya was confirmed as Rohit Sharma’s chief deputy for the marquee tournament.

“Previously, Hardik Pandya held the captaincy, but Rohit Sharma took over for T20 matches. Post T20 World Cup, there was a new plan; they aimed for a younger team with Pandya and Surya as potential captains. Yet, questions arise regarding Pandya’s performance, consistency and commitment to Indian cricket,” Pathan told Star Sports, critiquing India’s u-turn in leadership dynamics.

The 39-year-old furthermore ripped into Pandya’s credentials. “Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year. Injuries are inevitable, but proper planning involving consistent match play, including domestic cricket, is vital for a player’s return. But then there’s this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements. That shouldn’t happen because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. When they see one player receiving special treatment, it disrupts the team environment.”

Having skippered India following the exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pandya has been under fire in the ongoing IPL season as the new Mumbai Indians captain, with the five-time winning franchise currently placed ninth in the 10-team points table. Making the case for an alternate candidate to take up the vice-captaincy role, Pathan said, “I understand the rationale behind it due to the importance of continuity in leadership. However, considering the current performance, the selectors opting for continuity may be understandable. Yet, I believe someone like Bumrah wouldn’t have been a bad choice either.”

Having skippered India following the exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pandya has been under fire in the ongoing IPL season as the new Mumbai Indians captain, with the five-time winning franchise currently placed ninth in the 10-team points table. (Photo: AP)

Unfair team culture

A former T20 World Cup winner with India from 2007, Pathan criticized the culture of certain players being given undue advantage over others, something he also noted during India’s previous T20 World Cup campaign. “Cricket isn’t like tennis; it’s a team sport where equality is vital. Every player should be treated fairly and equally. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, cricket is a team sport first and foremost,” Pathan said.

“I’ve witnessed things in the past, particularly during the T20 World Cup last year, that went against the principles of Indian cricket—instances where certain players were given undue advantage, which is unacceptable. To succeed in tournaments like the World Cup, it’s imperative that every player is treated fairly and equally,” he added.

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• India squad for T20 World Cup

India will kickstart their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York.

India’s squad for T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan

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