After India’s semi-final exit from the World Cup, Harbhajan Singh suggested that Ashish Nehra be added to the coaching staff to assist Rahul Dravid in T20Is. In addition, he proposed Hardik Pandya as the Indian team’s captain in the shortest format.
With India’s loss to England in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-finals, the debate over team changes has been heating up. The Men in Blue were defeated by a 10-wicket margin in the knockout game, as the bowlers were unable to pose any threat to the opening pair of Alex Hales and Jos Buttler. India has been eliminated from the knockout stages of ICC events since 2014, and the loss has extended their wait for a trophy.
“It’s not just the captain. If you can bring someone who has just retired from T20 cricket recently, someone who understands the format,” Harbhajan told India Today.
“I think if you don’t want to remove Dravid from T20I as a coach then help him with someone who has recently retired. Someone like Ashish Nehra who has got a great cricketing brain. Look what he has done there at Gujarat Titan.”
“For captaincy, Hardik Pandya is my choice. There is no better choice. He is the best player in the team and you need more people like him in the team.”
India will next face New Zealand in two white-ball series, with Hardik leading the side in T20Is. Hardik’s fate as India’s captain may be determined by the team’s performance.