Hardik Pandya will captain India in five T20Is in Caribbean and then possibly in 3 games in Ireland.
29-year-old Pandya is one of the key members of India's ODI team and his all-around prowess adds necessary balance to the side. Given his back issues, the BCCI and team management want to deal with him cautiously.
Hardik Pandya has flown to the Caribbean for the three ODIs and five T20Is which will begin after the ongoing second Test match between India and West Indies.
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"Nothing is finalised yet and it will also depend on how Hardik is feeling after the one-dayers and T20s in the West Indies. There is traveling involved and only a short turnaround of three days before one flies from Florida to Dublin.
With the World Cup being of primary importance, one has to factor in his workload. Let's not forget he will be Rohit's deputy in the World Cup," a BCCI source told PTI.
It is to be noted that Pandya would be expected to play the majority of matches against West Indies where the Men in Blue will play eight games in 18 days in three Caribbean countries and the USA.
India plays three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies in Bridgetown (Barbados), Tarouba (Trinidad), Georgetown (Guyana), and Florida (United States) between July 27 to August 13.
In Ireland, India will play three T20s in a space of five days (August 18, 20, and 23).
Pandya will endure severe workload and travel fatigue if he flies from the USA to Ireland and then to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup.
(PTI report)