The 1983 World Cup champion Krishnamachari Srikkanth stated that Hardik Pandya should be appointed as full-time India T20I captain and the management should start rebuilding a side for the 2024 T20 World Cup. India crashed out of the 2022 T20 World Cup after suffering a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of eventual champions England in the semi-final. It was a one-sided match as India failed to stop Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, who chased down 169 with four overs to spare. The humiliating exit has raised eyebrows at Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and, as such, noise is increasing to change the captain and play young players.

“See if I was the chairman of the selection committee, I would say that Hardik Pandya should be the captain of the 2024 World Cup, straight away, I had put it that way – number one,” said Srikkanth, who is also a former chief selector, while speaking on Star Sports show ‘Match Point’. Srikkanth added that India should start rebuilding its T20I side with the series against New Zealand, beginning November 18. Pandya-led Indian team will play three T20Is against the BlackCaps.

Also Read: Sydney Thunder’s platinum signing David Willey pulls out of BBL

Srikkanth said India needs more fast-bowling all-rounders in T20Is

“And start rebuilding a side right from today, that is from the New Zealand series which is going to happen in a weeks’ time. You start from today, the preparation for the World Cup, you need to understand, starts 2 years in advance. So, you do whatever you want to do, the trial and error policy, do whatever you want, try it for one year, then you form a team and by 2023 make sure this is going to be at the level that is going to play the World Cup.” The former cricketer also said that India needs more fast-bowling all-rounders, highlighting that India won the World Cups in 1983, 2007 and 2011 because of fast-bowling or semi all-rounders.

“You need more fast-ball all-rounders. Let’s see, 1983 World Cup, 2011 World Cup, 2007 T20 World Cup, why did we win? We had many fast-ball all-rounders and semi all-rounders. So, to identify these guys – guys like (Deepak) Hooda, like Hooda, there are going to be so many more Hoodas.” You start from today, the preparation for the World Cup, you need to understand, starts 2 years in advance. So, you do whatever you want to do, the trial and error policy, do whatever you want, try it for one year.