Pandya, Gill Or Bumrah; Who Will Be India's New ODI Captain?

image-lp6q4qzeHardik Pandya in action [X.com]

On Sunday, India succumbed to a disastrous defeat against Australia, who crushed them by six wickets to lift the World Cup title for the record sixth time. After opting to bowl first, Australia restricted India to a paltry 240-run total on a slightly drier surface. Chasing 241 didn't turn out to be improbable for the Men in Yellow, as Travis Head slammed a magnificent ton to lead them to the silverware. 

Talking about India, skipper Rohit Sharma seemed distraught after his troops failed to put up an impressive show in the final. 

Although he led the team exemplarily in the tournament, Rohit will likely pass the baton to another player as the team will undergo transition before the next World Cup. So, let's see who the top contenders are to replace Rohit as India's next ODI captain. 


Hardik Pandya

Hailed for his incredible all-round attributes, Hardik Pandya has been captaining the Indian T20I side since the 2022 T20 World Cup. As he has been active in international cricket for seven years, we reckon Pandya is the front-runner to succeed Rohit as the ODI captain. However, his fragile body might prevent the selectors from announcing him as the skipper, as he has recently been susceptible to multiple injury issues. 


KL Rahul

image-lp6q7ajhKL Rahul [AP]

If not Pandya, the selectors might look at KL Rahul for ODI captaincy, as he possesses a calm head. Regarded as a composed cricketer, Rahul has also led Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. So, if Pandya is considered only for T20 captaincy, Rahul might be given the duties in the 50-over format. 


Shreyas Iyer

image-lp6q6xs8Shreyas Iyer [AP]

In a bold move, the Indian management might trust Shreyas Iyer to lead the team in ODIs. He has a fare experience of leadership, having captained Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Besides being calm and composed, Iyer has a reputation for being a gutsy cricketer and can undoubtedly guide India to glory through his fighting spirit.