Now that India is riding high after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025, attention is turning to a key topic for Indian cricket’s future: Who will captain the men’s squad in white-ball formats in the upcoming years? With senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli nearing the end of their white-ball journeys, the spotlight is now firmly on identifying the next White-Ball Captain who can carry forward India’s legacy. The decision holds immense importance, as the chosen leader will not only guide the team through bilateral series but also lay the foundation for the 2026 ODI World Cup. Whether it’s the experienced Hardik Pandya, the composed KL Rahul, the dynamic Rishabh Pant, or the promising Shubman Gill, Indian cricket’s next White-Ball Captain must blend strategic acumen with the ability to inspire a new generation of players.
The seasoned opener Rohit Sharma, who led India to a golden age of white-ball supremacy, is nearing the end of his ODI career and has already retired from T20Is. Legendary former captain Kapil Dev has strongly endorsed Hardik Pandya as India’s next white-ball skipper during this transitional period.
“Hardik Pandya is my white-ball captain in my opinion. In a recent interview, Kapil Dev stated, “There are a lot of candidates for the position, but Pandya is my choice.”
A Crowded Race for Leadership
There are several names in the race to become India’s next white-ball leader. After Rohit left, Suryakumar Yadav, who is renowned for his aggressive batting and creative strokeplay, assumed the T20I captaincy in 2024. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, widely regarded as one of India’s brightest young talents, is serving as ODI vice-captain and is seen as a long-term leadership prospect.
Hardik Pandya, in Kapil Dev’s opinion, provides the ideal balance of youth, experience, and tactical maturity despite the competition. He underlined that the all-rounder from Baroda might assemble a squad that can do well in next ICC competitions, such as the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Kapil went on to say, “Pandya is relatively young and can build a team around him for the next ICC events.”
Hardik Pandya’s Mixed Bag as Captain
In recent years, Hardik’s abilities as captain have undoubtedly been put to the test. In 2022, he made a spectacular debut as captain of the Gujarat Titans, guiding the newly established team to an IPL championship in its inaugural season. His reputation as a capable leader was cemented when he led them to the final the following year.
However, there was controversy surrounding his return to the Mumbai Indians in 2024. Many MI supporters were unhappy with the decision to remove Rohit Sharma as captain, and the team’s performance under his direction was underwhelming. With only four victories in 14 games, MI finished last in the table. Mumbai has only won one of their first four games in the 2025 IPL, but things haven’t gotten any better either.
However, Kapil Dev is not deterred. Although he accepts the disappointments, he sees promise in Hardik’s leadership style and capacity to unite a team under duress, which is an essential quality for international captains.
The Need for Format-Specific Captains
Additionally, Kapil brought attention to a more general tendency in contemporary cricket: the requirement for distinct captains for various formats. Hardik hasn’t played a Test since 2018 and is solely focused on white-ball cricket, so Kapil thinks it’s unrealistic to expect one person to lead in all three formats.
“India will need multiple captains for the three formats as Hardik isn’t playing, and it would be ideal if he also played Test cricket,” he stated.
In teams like England and Australia, where roles are frequently separated to manage workload and adjust leadership styles to each format’s needs, this is in line with worldwide trends.
The Road Ahead
Pandya’s record in international white-ball matches, which includes game-winning heroics and his capacity to step up under pressure, keeps him in the running despite his recent IPL troubles. Hardik Pandya might still be the ideal candidate for India’s white-ball captaincy if the BCCI is searching for a dynamic, accomplished player with leadership experience and longevity on his side.
The team’s leadership will undoubtedly change as it prepares for the upcoming major ICC cycle, and Pandya’s argument may gain a lot of traction with Kapil Dev’s support.
