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Legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has highlighted the importance of Hardik Pandya in the Indian team. Hardik has been out of action due to an injury he suffered during a World Cup match against Bangladesh in October 2023. Despite admitting that Hardik is injury prone, Yuvraj feels the management should give him enough time to recover, saying that he is an important member of the team. With the T20 World Cup set to be held later this year after the Indian Premier League (IPL), Yuvraj feels that India should look at more options when it comes to captaincy.
Following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in 2022, India captain Rohit Sharma was absent from the scene when it comes to captaincy in the shortest format of the game.
During his absence, Hardik had led the team in T20Is. Rohit played his first T20I in over 14 month earlier this week against Afghaninstan. With Rohit’s T20I future also a topic a discussion in recent times, Yuvraj feels Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill can also lead the team if required.
“Hardik is a very important member of the team and India need him. He is injury-prone and we need to give him time to recuperate and settle down. We have to get the best out of him. As for captaincy, we need to have more options. There is Suryakumar Yadav, who has been captaining India in T20Is. There is Shubman Gill, who be captain in IPL,” Yuvraj told Times of India.
On Hardik replacing Rohit as captain of Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024, Yuvraj feels the decision was taken keeping long term projects in mind, despite conceding that there is no replacement for experience.
“In franchise cricket, it always gets tough as you get old. Every franchise is always looking to promote a young player on whom they have spent a lot, and that is only fair. I have faced this situation too. But then, there can’t be a replacement for experience. Rohit has huge experience and has delivered. But a franchise has to think long term,” he added.
Rohit has captained MI to five IPL titles in the past, with the last triumph in 2020. Meanwhile, Hardik guided Gujarat Titans to glory in their first season in IPL in 2022.
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