After India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph last month, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from international cricket’s shortest format. So, the question now arises – who will lead India in T20Is going forward.

In the ongoing T20I tour of Zimbabwe, the BCCI selectors have sent a second-string team with Shubman Gill being named captain.

However, a report published in ANI claims that Hardik Pandya will take over as captain of the Indian team in the shortest format from the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka later this month.

"Hardik Pandya is all set to lead the Indian team in the T20, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement. Hardik is also unlikely to be rested for the upcoming series vs Sri Lanka," BCCI sources told the news agency.

It is worth mentioning here that Hardik Pandya played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph last month. He defended 15 runs in the final over to script India’s tense seven-run victory over South Africa in the title clash at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Overall, Hardik claimed 11 wickets from eight innings and scored 144 runs from six innings in the global showpiece event. His best batting performance came against Bangladesh when he slammed 50* off 27 balls in the second Super 8 fixture.

The sources also indicate that wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul is set to assume leadership responsibilities in ODIs on the Sri Lanka tour as Rohit Sharma will be rested for the series.

"KL Rahul will lead the Indian team in the absence of Rohit Sharma as the board believes he makes runs in the longer format," the sources added.

The limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, starting on June 27, will also mark the start of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team.

(With ANI Inputs)