Hardik Panday creates a unique record that Rohit, Virat, and Dhoni couldn't do as T20I captains for India
The year 2023 has gone in favour of Team India. They have won four out of four series at home. Firstly, they defeated Sri Lanka in both the ODI and T20I series. And now they have thrashed New Zealand in both white-ball assignments.
India registered its biggest T20I win in the third and final game at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, as they beat the Kiwis by 168 runs. It was India's 23rd series win out of 25 at home. India has done exceedingly well in the shorter format under Hardik Pandya.
Despite the fact that the BCCI has not officially named him captain, he has led India since the 2022 T20 World Cup. Hardik has only led India in a few series, but he has established a unique record as an Indian captain.
He has led India in 11 games and has eight wins to his name. And three of those eight victories were by more than 80 runs. As a result, he has become the first Indian skipper to win three games with a margin of 80 or more runs in the shorter format of the game.
None of the previous captains have been able to achieve this feat. Rohit has two wins with 80 runs or more, while Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant have one win with this margin.
India will now take on Australia in the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will start on Thursday, February 9 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur. Hardik is the possible candidate for India's future white-ball format.
He led the Gujarat Titans to their first IPL win in their maiden season and has done a decent job as a captain for India most recently. The Indian management is also looking to make a team for the 2024 T20 World Cup, and Rohit might not play until then.