Hardik Pandya can be India captain post 2023 WC if he wins 1st ODI vs Australia: Sunil Gavaskar
Mumbai, Mar 14: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar reckons Hardik Pandya can stake claim for leadership role in one-dayers too after the World Cup this year, provided his side emerges victorious against Australia in the first ODI here on Friday.
With regular skipper Rohit Sharma set to miss the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium due to family commitments, Pandya has been named the stand-in captain for the contest.
The 29-year-old all-rounder, who captained Gujarat Titans to title win in their maiden appearance in the Indian Premier League 2022 season, is already the incumbent leader for India in the shortest format.
Gavaskar told Star Sports, "I have been very impressed with his captaincy at the T20 level for the Gujarat Titans and for India when he is captaining the T20 side. I do believe that if he wins the first game in Mumbai, then you can almost stamp him as the India captain once the World Cup is over in 2023."
Gavaskar said Pandya's presence in the middle-order is essential for India.
"He can be an impact player as well as a game changer in the middle-order. Even for the Gujarat team, he was promoting himself up the order knowing that this is the time when the team needed some momentum and push, and he would do that," Gavaskar said.
"So, someone who is prepared to take on responsibility, lead from the front, and who will not ask the players to do something that he wants to do himself, is highly crucial," he said.
Gavaskar added that Pandya's captaincy style also makes him a favourite among the players.
"What you see with Hardik Pandya as a captain is a sense of comfort with the rest of the team. Maybe, it's the way he handles the players, puts his arm around the players He just seems to give the players a sense of comfort.
"That's so important... to give a player a sense of comfort so that he can go and play his natural game. I think he encourages them, which is a wonderful sign."
Meanwhile, former India player and commentator Ajit Agarkar has backed Rohit to fire with the bat once he links up with the Indian squad.
"His record speaks for itself. You do not need to say anything about Rohit's performance in white ball cricket. He has taken a slightly different approach at times, trying to be the aggressor at the top of the order," Agarkar said.
"Maybe, he changed it a little bit in the last series, giving himself a little more time and got the hundred. I just hope he plays every game that India plays from now on, every one-day, because you want your captain out there to just have a pattern of play," he added.
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IIM Graduate arrested in Noida for defrauding 20 women through premium matrimonial sites
Greater Noida: The Bisrakh Police have arrested Rahul Chaturvedi, an IIM graduate, for allegedly duping over 20 women across Delhi-NCR by luring them into romantic relationships through fake profiles on matrimonial websites. Chaturvedi, hailing from Lucknow's Sahara Building, posed as a high-ranking executive to gain the trust of his victims, swindling them out of money and valuable items.
Operating under false identities, Chaturvedi used matrimonial sites like Jeevansathi.com and Better Half, presenting himself as an HR Regional Manager at Wipro. He extorted expensive items, including iPhones and cash, by promising marriage to his victims. One woman filed a complaint after losing Rs 2 lakh and an iPhone to him, leading to his arrest.
During interrogation, Chaturvedi admitted to scamming at least 20 women, using forged salary slips to bolster his claims of affluence. The police are investigating further to identify additional victims.
Rahul Chaturvedi is passed out from IIM Bangalore. He has been a regional manager at Wipro company.
— زماں (@Delhiite_) September 24, 2024
Current business: Made a profile on a matrimonial site and befriended 17 women aged 35 years and duped them by promising marriage. 🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/P10mQTxcB1 https://t.co/MdG6CGkXMQ
