Big Statement from Shoaib Akhtar predicts this player can lead India in future
Shoaib Akhtar- India (Image Source: Twitter)
The Gujarat franchise made their debut in the Indian T20 League 2022. They have been clinical with their performance in the tournament and have rocketed into the final of their maiden season in the tournament. The biggest asset for the team has been the all-round performance from their skipper Hardik Pandya. Pandya has been excellent on the field in all the departments of the game.
While his performances with the bat and the ball along with his fielding, experts and fans have been impressed with his leadership skills as the captain of the franchise. Hardik has been confident and has led from the front while being tactically sound enough during doing the job. The viewers have commanded his presence on the field and his approach towards the role as this is the first time Hardik has been leading a team.
The former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar seems to have been impressed by Hardik Pandya, the captain. In a recent conversation with Sportskeeda, Akhtar stated that Hardik could be the aptest successor for Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Indian team.
“It is the fact that Hardik Pandya is leaving a mark. He is knocking on the door of Indian captaincy. One is not sure how long Rohit Sharma will continue as captain,” – he said.
“It’s never easy to captain the Indian cricket team. Hardik has proved his point (as a leader) but he still needs to focus on his fitness and bowling. When he was fit as an all-rounder, he was an automatic choice in the Indian team. As a pure batter, though, there is no vacancy in the Indian team,”- Akhtar further added.
Akhtar also spoke about the role Rashid Khan has played in Gujarat’s successful run as the deputy of Hardik. Rashid has been brilliant in the tournament with both the bat and the ball. He has played some brilliant little cameos in the lower order; he has also picked up 18 wickets in the tournament at an average of 22.39 and an economy rate of 6.74.
“Rashid Khan has complemented Hardik very well. He has done the job with both bat and ball. He is a wonderful character and an asset for the team,” Akhtar said on Rashid.
Gujarat will be battling against Rajasthan in the final of the Indian T20 League 2022 to lift their maiden ITL-Title in their debut season.
