Four contenders to lead Team India on Sri Lanka Tour
With the bad news that the 2021 IPL under suspension due to the Pandemic, the cricket loving public is eager for action as there are jam-packed overseas schedules.
The Sri Lanka Tour is on the itinerary for Team India in July this year.
It is indeed a noticeably short your but one of high voltage. They would compete against each other in three Odi’s and three T20s.
Due to the Covid 19 issue, the matches would be played only in the Premadasa Stadium, Columbia.
Yet another fallout due to the pandemic situation, many Indian players cannot travel back and forth from England as the World Cup for Test Championships against New Zealand is there. The English series is also being staged there. India would send its best side available as their bench/ strength too. The problem is on choosing the captain from the preferred xi. And Kheltalk has shortlisted top four contenders for the captain of Team India.
Here is that list of four Probable captains:
4. Hardik Pandya:
The natural but flamboyant player is an integral part of the Indian team now. He plays in all three formats.
Hardik is a batting all-rounder, but his shoulder injury is causing him pain while bowling.
Even if this is disregarded, Hardik has little experience in captaining a team in the past leave alone India.
Everybody knows he would take to captaincy like a fish to water, but the dark clouds that loom above him suggest he may not be the number one choice for it.
3. Prithvi Shaw:
One should remember Shaw captained the U-19 Indian Cricket Team in the 2018 campaign for the World Cup; and succeeded. He has also headed the Mumbai Team in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and lifted the cup too.
It should be noted that his contribution was tremendous, and he continued that form into the recently suspendedIPL.
So, what could be the disadvantage with Shaw at the helm?
The Sri Lanka team are kings in their backyard and are rearing to go at the Indians. Their recent performances have been an affair to forget about, and an inexperienced captain, not to forget a 21-year-old youngster, can be prevailed upon.
Shaw would lose out there as his captaincy depends on his form. If bad luck strikes him, he would be under severe pressure to shoulder the team.
2. Shreyas Iyer:
Shreyas Iyer is the latest addition to the diamonds around India's cricket crown. Much was expected of him in the IPL, but his shoulder injury in the English series saw him sitting it out. Shreyas has led the DC to some quantum of success before this in the UAE, but his experience is limited. Moreover, one does hope he has recovered fully from the shoulder injury.
His demeanour in the past has reflected that he is captaincy material, and his confidence has always been high. He may make it to the captaincy, fingers crossed!
1. Shikar Dhawan:
If one considers experience, Shikar Dhawan would quickly earn the captaincy crown. Shikar’s vast experience in playing all three formats and his contribution to batting and fielding is just short of legendary stuff.
He has also been a vice-captain on several occasions, but what would tip the scales in his favor is his friendly approach.
He has kept his career free of any dark patches, and his knowledge of the game is second to none.
Given his excellent form, Dhawan may have more than a nose ahead of the other three and would captain India in the Sri Lanka series.
