ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Hardik Pandya will captain the Champions Trophy in place of Rohit Sharma

Rohit decided to take a rest from Tests

Indian vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah took over in place of Rohit in the last Test match against Australia, which started on January 3. During the toss, Bumrah said that Rohit has decided to take a 'rest' from Tests. However, many media reports in India claimed

Rohit was also dropped from the list of 15 available players

That he was dropped due to poor form in the last three Test matches. Rohit was dropped not only from the playing XI but also from the list of 15 available players for the match. Rohit has played his last Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Even if that was Rohit's last international match, he was 37 years old. In such a situation, India will need a new ODI captain to lead the team for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE.

T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav made captain

MyKhel quoted an unnamed source as saying, "Hardik has the ability to lead in a high-pressure environment. His experience as an all-rounder and leader makes him an ideal choice for an ICC tournament like the Champions Trophy." The story is not so straightforward, there is a twist. IPL's Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill and T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav were also ruled out as potential options. The report said, "Gill still needs more preparation to mature as a captain.

Suryakumar Yadav's ODI performance has been very ordinary

Suryakumar Yadav's ODI performance has been very ordinary. When his place in the team is not confirmed, then the question of captaincy does not arise. In such a situation, if Rohit is unavailable, Hardik will remain the most balanced option to lead India in ODIs. Hardik has a long experience of captaincy. Hardik Pandya has captained three ODIs for the Indian cricket team. In March 2023, he also led the team to victory against Australia by five wickets. Later in July and August of the same year, after defeating the West Indies by six wickets, they were also defeated by 200 runs.

Hardik Pandya does not play Test matches due to fitness

Fitness does not support Hardik Pandya, that is why the all-rounder does not play Test matches. He was also earlier seen as an option for T20 captaincy, but after Rohit's retirement, the BCCI expressed confidence in Suryakumar. Suryakumar was chosen as the captain of the Indian team t20