Meanwhile, what happened to be the one of the ‘most talked about’ point from the squad selection was the appointment of India’s vice-captain for the prestigious cricket biennial next year.
After learning about the omission of Shubman Gill during the squad announcement by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, most of the Indian fans would’ve been expecting Hardik Pandya to be picked as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. But it was Axar Patel, who was roped in as a vice-captain for the Men in Blue
This has led to the fans wondering what wrong has Hardik Pandya done and whether he will ever be reinstated back into the leadership role in the only format he relishes playing.
Let's take a look at how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has silently sidelined the flamboyant all-rounder from India’s leadership core.
What went wrong despite Hardik’s captaincy credentials?
Prior to the commencement of the T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies, Indian cricket administration was looking at Hardik Pandya as a successor of the former skipper Rohit Sharma in the T20Is. It was also visible in BCCI’s decisions when they appointed Pandya as team’s captain in a few bilateral T20I assignments.
Hardik’s first assignment as captain was against Ireland in the two-match T20I series in June 2022, where India defeated the hosts by 2-0 to clinch the series.
Furthermore, the three-match home T20I series against Sri Lanka in January 2023 was Hardik’s next captaincy appontment. This happened after leading the side as a stand-in skipper against West Indies and New Zealand in August and November 2022.
Later on, Hardik also won the three-match T20I series as captain against New Zealand in January-February 2023. The only series that he lost as the Indian captain was against West Indies in August 2023.
India in T20Is under Hardik Pandya's captaincy
Criterion
Data
Matches
16
Won
10
Lost
5
Tied
1
Win %
62.50
Even after winning 10 games out of 16 games as India's T20I captain, including a tied game and losing just 5 games, the decision-makers didn’t invest their trust in Pandya’s leadership abilities despite his winning percentage of 62.50. Initially, the rationale that decision-makers came up with was ‘Hardik’s vulnerability to injury.’
But, was it really the injury as a prime reason to remove Hardik from captaincy role? Because, the fact can’t be missed that Hardik only missed a series against Zimbabwe that was played immediately after the T20 World Cup 2024, before being a part of India’s all T20I XIs till the recently concluded home T20Is against SA.
So, his availability and fitness throughout this entire timeline was also a reflection to the fact that ‘injury was masqueraded as a concern to execute some planned tactics against a leader who could’ve led the side to the new heights’.
Hardik’s performance-rebuttal to BCCI’s decisions over the time
Notably, the T20 World Cup 2024 was the last event when Hardik was included in the team's leadership core as the vice-captain. He was appointed Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the tournament’s ninth edition. Notably, Hardik was a vital cog in the wheel for India’s second T20 World Cup title win.
Hardik Pandya in T20 World Cup 2024
Batting
Criterion
Data
Innings
6
Runs
144
Average
48.00
Strike Rate
151.57
Highest
50*
50s/100s
1/0
Bowling
Criterion
Data
Innings
8
Wickets
11
Economy Rate
7.64
Strike Rate
13.63
BBI
3/20
4w/5w
0/0
Hardik scored 144 runs in six innings, with the highest batting average of 48.00 for India in the tournament, including three unbeaten appearances and a half-century. Pandya also registered a brilliant strike rate of 151.57.
Speaking of his performance with the ball as vice-captain in T20 WC 2024, he picked 11 wickets in eight innings including a match-winning performance in the tournament’s summit clash against South Africa.
Ever since his comeback in India's T20I team following an absence in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, Hardik Pandya has featured in 20 innings for India till the recently concluded five-match T20I series against South Africa.
Hardik Pandya in T20Is after missing Zimbabwe T20Is till now
Batting
Criterion
Data
Innings
20
Runs
510
Average
36.40
Strike Rate
151.80
Highest
63
50s/100s
3/0
Bowling
Criterion
Data
Innings
23
Wickets
17
Economy Rate
9.06
Strike Rate
22.4
BBI
2/23
4w/5w
0/0
In these appearances, the star all-rounder has left everyone awestruck with his outstanding all-round performances both with the bat and ball. In 20 innings, he has scored 510 runs with an average of 36.40 and a strike rate of 151.80, with three half-centuries to his name. It also includes his recent half-century against South Africa, which happened to be the second fastest fifty for India in T20Is.
With ball, he has claimed 17 wickets in 63.2 overs in 23 innings in the same time span, with an average of 2.75 overs per game, including a dot percentage of 47.6.
It is clearly visible that neither form nor fitness is hampering Hardik Pandya's elevation. It only leaves fans to wonder what is the real reason behind his quite snub.
Conclusion: ‘Captain with a spine’ is what hurts the top bosses
With strong individuals like Hardik Pandya, and Shreyas Iyer conveniently being kept aside, fans are starting to feel authoritative figures taking over decision-making in India's cricketing setup.
This might not sit easily with Indian fans who are always invested in the cricketing affaris and results of the team. BCCI must ensure that transparency across players and fans transcends through all levels of diplomacy in Indian cricket.
Hardik Pandya (Source: AFP) 
