Currently, Team India will be led by Rohit Sharma in the T20I series against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma has taken over the T20I captaincy after Virat Kohli decided to give up the role at the end of India's campaign in T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli had announced his decision ahead of the second phase of IPL 2021 in the UAE.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann has suggested India's wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant's name as someone who could lead the team for the long term. Rohit, 34, is seen as a replacement of Kohli as a captain but for the short term only, and India needs a well-groomed youngster for the role.
"Might be, but not for me (On Rohit being the next captain). You have to look to the future. I think India have a captain in waiting for the next 10 years. You know who I'm talking about, it's Rishabh Pant," Swann said on Cricket.com.
"He did a great job in Delhi, he is very level-headed and he seems like a sort of a mix of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. He's very level-headed like MS Dhoni, but he's got a bit of spirit about him, like Virat. Like how he laughs and giggles and is chirpy behind the stumps."
Pant was the captain of Delhi Capitals in the recently concluded IPL 14. He led the team to playoffs but there were criticism of some of his decisions as a leader, although it was only his first season as captain.
Swann said Pant is still very early in Indian cricket and he has a lot of time left in his career, while Rohit has already been with the team for over a decade.
"The only reason I'd say not Rohit Sharma is the age difference. With Rishabh Pant, you've got someone there for the next 10 years, whereas Rohit has been around a lot already. Rohit is a brilliant skipper, we know that and he's done the job for Mumbai, so if he should take over, you've got a ready-made skipper. But if I were India, I'd think long-term and go for Rishabh Pant," he added.
(With Cricket.com Inputs)