Kapil Dev Picks His White-Ball Leader: Why Hardik Pandya Is the Man for the Job | Mykhel Exclusive

With India firmly established as the reigning force in white-ball cricket-thanks to back-to-back ICC trophies, the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy-the spotlight has now shifted from silverware to succession. Who takes over the white-ball reins from Rohit Sharma? In an exclusive interaction with MyKhel, World Cup-winning legend Kapil Dev made his pick loud and clear: Hardik Pandya.

"If you ask me, it has to be Hardik Pandya. He's my white-ball captain," Kapil Dev told MyKhel on the sidelines of a PGTI pro-am event in Greater Noida on Saturday (April 5). "There are other names in the mix, but for me, Pandya stands out."

Pandya's journey has been anything but ordinary. A year ago, he was touted to take over India's T20I captaincy post their World Cup win, only for the selectors to bet on Suryakumar Yadav. Despite that detour, Kapil Dev believes Pandya has matured into a leader who can guide India through future white-ball campaigns.

"He's still young and has that spark. You need someone who can lead from the front and rally a team around him. Pandya fits that bill," Kapil observed.

While the leadership discussion heats up, Kapil Dev also offered a reality check on Indian cricket's captaincy puzzle. With fewer all-format players in the current setup, he doesn't see one man leading in all three formats.

"Hardik should ideally play Tests too. But since that's not the case, India will require separate captains for each format," he added.

Injury concerns have always shadowed Pandya's career, but the former skipper isn't too worried. He believes as long as Pandya performs and keeps the team together, fitness issues can be managed.

With BCCI and the team management also reportedly keen on grooming a successor, Kapil Dev's endorsement only strengthens Hardik Pandya's claim. As India builds towards the next cycle of ICC white-ball events, Pandya's name is not just in the mix-it might already be written in bold.