Asia Cup: Where does Shubman Gill's elevation as T20I vice-captain leave Hardik Pandya in captaincy race?

In contentious social media debates surrounding India’s Asia Cup squad, Hardik Pandya was notably excluded. Known for consistently commanding attention, the absence of commentary on Hardik highlights a significant shift in the current landscape.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Previously viewed as the future of Indian cricket, Hardik was regarded as the designated successor to Rohit Sharma. He possessed the necessary accolades, including an IPL title with Gujarat Titans, accumulated 833 runs over two seasons as captain, and secured 10 victories in 16 T20 Internationals as India’s skipper. His memorable final over that clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup final vs South Africa, appeared to solidify his standing.However, the buzz around Hardik being the ideal candidate to become permanent white-ball or T20I captain lost steam following a severe ankle injury sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup match vs Bangladesh in Pune, which exacerbated his ongoing fitness challenges. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s no-nonsense, “We would want a captain who stays on the park,” on the eve of the team’s departure to Sri Lanka last Aug, when he explained why Suryakumar Yadav was given the role, highlighted Hardik’s fitness worries.In his absence due to injuries, SKY assumed leadership and helped India to multiple series victories with a composed approach that was in stark contrast with Pandya’s more aggressive style.SKY’s rapid ascent to the World no.1 T20I batter, established him as a viable alternative.Hardik’s stocks fell further during the 2024 IPL season when he was announced as the new captain of the Mumbai Indians having been acquired for an astronomical undisclosed fee from Gujarat Titans. That the franchise made him skipper replacing Rohit Sharma, who had won MI five IPL titles, angered the fans and he was soundly booed every time he walked out for the toss. The team’s last-place finish didn’t help matters too. Concurrently, SKY’s prominence as the preferred leader for India increased.The transition was formalised after the T20 World Cup, with SKY being appointed as the full-time T20I captain and Axar Patel assuming the vice-captaincy. In a subsequent development signalling a new direction, Shubman Gill, who is being developed as an all-format leader, was named SKY’s deputy, effectively ending Hardik’s ambitions of becoming India captain. However, his role within the team remains influential. Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar acknowledged Hardik’ enduring leadership qualities, stating, “I think more than anything, his biggest strength is his personality. Just sitting there in the dressing room or the dugout…there’s always an assurance that something remarkable can happen,” he stated during an interview with Star Sports.Nayar further added, “He definitely brings leadership to the group. He will always be a leader, whether he’s the captain or not. And like I said, more than just a cricketer, it’s his personality and the aura he brings to the team that matters a lot to these young players.”While he may not be the leader, Hardik, now 31, is definitely one of the cornerstones in Team India’s structure.