'Maybe it was combo pack of him and Nehra': Ex-opener baffled by Hardik's India captaincy

Hardik Pandya's foray into captaincy in T20 cricket showcases his evolution as a leader on the field. With his dynamic playing style and innate cricketing intelligence, Pandya has brought an assertive and innovative approach to captaining T20 teams. His stint as captain for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL demonstrated his ability to rally his team and make strategic decisions that lead to success. However, his leadership journey with the Indian T20I team has presented both triumphs and challenges, as he navigates the intricacies of international cricket captaincy.

3 things you need to know

• Hardik Pandya was the captain of the Indian team that lost the T20I series to West Indies
• This is the first time India lost a T20I series against West Indies since 2016
• Hardik's 'It's good to lose sometimes' remark after the match garnered a lot of criticism

Also Read: How Hardik Pandya's Masterplan Backfired Big Time In India Vs West Indies Series

Aakash Chopra slams Hardik Pandya's captaincy

Aakash Chopra, a former India opener, provided an in-depth analysis of this situation in a video on his official YouTube channel. Chopra emphasized that when Hardik leads the Gujarat Titans, there's a distinct and effective template in place. This stands in stark contrast to his leadership with the Indian team, where the all-rounder's decision-making seems less consistent. This discrepancy becomes evident in the way he works alongside head coach Ashish Nehra for the Gujarat Titans, leading to a well-coordinated approach.

"He has captained in only two seasons and captained amazingly well in both years. When he captains that side, there is a clear pattern. It's all almost predictable. You got surprised one or two times but other than that, you couldn't have found a mistake in his captaincy. Maybe it was the combo pack of him and Ashish Nehra.

“However, when he is captaining the Indian team, there are a lot of ups and down. There is no template or pattern, which is alright as you can surprise the opposition team. It's okay if your own team is getting benefitted because of that but what if your team's players are unable to get prepared?” Chopra said.

Also Read: Nicholas Pooran Tells Hardik Pandya To 'shut His Mouth' After West Indies Beat India-WATCH

Throughout the series, Hardik's decision-making has been under intense scrutiny. This encompasses his utilization of bowlers such as Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, the limited use of Mukesh Kumar, and certain decisions regarding the batting order. While his captaincy prowess shines in the IPL, Hardik's performance as captain for the Indian team appears to be under evaluation.

Image: BCCI