The Indian cricket team has always put on a show for their massive fan following all over the world. From the likes of Kapil Dev to Sourav Ganguly to MS Dhoni and presently Virat Kohli, India has always shone brightly under the leadership of these great players, who have truly left their mark in the game.
However, the big questions remain.
Who will take over the captaincy once Kohli steps down?
Who can lead Team India to the greater heights?
Who will inspire the best performance from a bunch of talented youngsters?
It is going to be a mammoth task ahead for Team India when it comes to choosing the most appropriate candidate as captain.
Let us have a look at the 5 players who could captain the Indian T20I team in the future.
1. KL Rahul:
KL Rahul is perhaps one of the most popular names in the game of cricket right now. The lad from Karnataka continues to prove his worth in all formats of the game. He has the potential to switch gears when he feels the team needs him to step up his game. The opener has earned Captain Kohli’s and also the team management’s trust with his batting talent.
Rahul has plenty of experience at the domestic and international levels. Also, he was declared the captain of Punjab Kings in the IPL. Another thing that goes unnoticed about him is his wicket-keeping skills. He is a very good wicket-keeper. Considering all this, he is certainly a perfect fit for the role of the next Indian T20I team captain.
2. Rishabh Pant:
Another wicket-keeper batsman, Rishabh Pant, has certainly made his mark in the game of cricket. The left-handed batsman is one of the few youngsters to play all three formats of the game. His aggressive batting capabilities have quickly taken him up the ranks as one of India’s best young talents. He is currently one of India’s best wicket-keeper batsmen.
The boy from Delhi proved his worth in the U-19 World Cup and also in the IPL, where he was made the captain of Delhi Capitals. Pant certainly has the skillset to transform the game of cricket in India with his talent. He is going to be one of the potential candidates to lead India’s T20I team in the future.
3. Devdutt Padikkal:
Devdutt Padikkal has stunned the world with his performance. His performance with RCB was very well appreciated by the fans and also Captain Kohli. Padikkal was lauded for his maiden IPL century against Rajasthan Royals. Many experts of the game backed the left-handed batsman’s international debut as well. He proved to be an extremely reliable opener for RCB. And, if he continues to perform well, he will be a valuable asset for Team India soon.
Also, he can be considered as a potential candidate for the role of the most coveted position one could be offered, the captain of the Indian cricket team. The Kerala-born lad scored 473 runs in his debut IPL season in 2020, outscoring players like AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. This helped him win the Emerging Player Award in the 2020 IPL season.
4. Suryakumar Yadav:
Suryakumar Yadav is known for his aggressive batting performances in the IPL. His batting skills have managed to grab the attention of many of the all-time greats. BCCI President, Sourav Ganguly said that the right-handed batsman is a very good player and his time will come soon. SKY’s innovative batting techniques make him the perfect T20 cricketer. His cameos for Kolkata Knight Riders were not left unnoticed.
His successful contributions helped the team. In 2018, he was the highest run-scorer for Mumbai Indians. Yadav slammed a 28-ball fifty in the 4th T20I against England in Ahmedabad, which was his maiden half-century. Came in to bat at number 3, Yadav struck a six on the very first ball of his international career, making him the first Indian batsman to do so. His accolades and dependability make him a worthy candidate for the Indian T20I captain soon.
5. Shreyas Iyer:
Shreyas Iyer, another Indian batting talent, made it to the Indian team with his consistent performance in domestic cricket. He has a fair amount of experience as the captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team and the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He led the Delhi Capitals to the finals in the 2020 season.
Iyer managed to prove his worth with his batting talent and leadership skills. He is a reliable top-order batsman. With time and maturity, he can surely be one of the leading picks for the role of the Indian T20I captain in the future. His technique is well regarded and has often drawn comparisons to many of the all-time greats.
