Rishabh Pant Likely to Replace Hardik Pandya as India’s Vice-Captain for T20 World Cup 2024: Report

Indian cricket team’s vice-captaincy for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 might see a switch, with Rishabh Pant emerging as a front-runner over Hardik Pandya, according to a recent report by Cricbuzz.

Pant, who made a remarkable return to form in the IPL 2024 after recovering from a serious car accident in December 2022, has reportedly caught the selectors’ attention with his stellar performance. Conversely, Hardik Pandya has faced challenges, both as a batsman and a bowler, leading to doubts about his leadership abilities, particularly evident during Mumbai Indians’ struggles in the ongoing tournament.

The report suggests that Pant’s strong form positions him favourably in the race for the vice-captaincy alongside Rohit Sharma for the T20 World Cup. Pant, who previously held the vice-captaincy before his injury setback, also brings captaincy experience, having led India in the T20I series against South Africa in June 2022. Additionally, he is slated to be India’s primary wicketkeeper for the World Cup.

Further deliberations for the squad revolve around the second wicketkeeper slot, with Sanju Samson and KL Rahul competing based on their IPL 2024 performances. The report indicates that while Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav are likely to occupy the top order, the middle order is expected to feature Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. The selection of Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and either Sanju Samson or KL Rahul remains at the discretion of the selectors.

In terms of spin options, Kuldeep Yadav is expected to secure a spot, while Axar Patel might edge out Ravi Bishnoi. Notably, despite Yuzvendra Chahal’s commendable IPL performance, he may not find a place in the squad.