3 players who can lead India during Afghanistan series in absence of Hardik Pandya

India will be hosting Afghanistan in the 3-match T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, this will be the last bilateral series of the Men in Blue ahead of the mega event. This will be a key series for both teams as they look to practice just before the marquee tournament which is scheduled in the West Indies and the USA. The 2007 T20 World Cup champions will be looking to win the trophy in the Caribbean Islands. 

Due to the injuries to Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, India may have to name a new captain for the Afghanistan series. Both players are out due to ankle problems. Pandya injured himself during the World Cup, while Suryakumar injured himself during the T201 series against South Africa.

The Men in Blue will be finding a possible replacement as there is no official confirmation of who will be leading the side in the T20 World Cup 2024. In the article, we will be looking at the players who might be captaining the side in the Afghanistan series. 

Here are the 3 players who can lead India during Afghanistan series

3. Shreyas Iyer 

Shreyas Iyer made a comeback for the last two T20I series against Australia at home and was also the vice-captain for the Men in Blue. He has been captaining in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he has the experience of captaining so is a possible replacement for Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav for the Afghanistan series. The middle-order batter has been in exceptional form in the white-ball cricket and has been the best No.4 batter for India in recent times and is currently in South Africa playing the two-match test series. 

2. Jasprit Bumrah 

Jasprit Bumrah has made a brilliant comeback to the side after his long-term injury. He has been one of the keys for India in the pace department across all formats of the game. He first came back in the Ireland series in which he led the side as well in the white-ball format for the first time. The speedster has been the No.1 bowler for India across formats but his injury has shortened his cricketing career. He is another possible player who can lead the side in the T20I format against the Afghans. The 30-year-old pacer is currently in South Africa for the test series. 

1. Rohit Sharma 

Rohit Sharma who has been the regular captain for India across all formats has been absent from the T20I squad for some time now as the 36-year-old was in rest for the series against Australia and the white-ball series against South Africa as well. He has led India to the first final of the ODI World Cup 2023 after 12 years and they eventually lost to Australia, but he was in sensational form in the tournament. The Men in Blue will be hoping that his availability ahead of the World Cup 2024 will be crucial for the side and he might also be leading in the T20I series against Afghanistan.