Reports: Hardik Pandya to lead India in Champions Trophy 2025 if Rohit Sharma gets sidelined

Rohit Sharma’s future as India’s captain has become a topic of discussion within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). With Rohit's recent struggles in Test cricket and his decision to opt out of the fifth Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the question of his leadership role in One-Days has also grabbed headlines.

As a result, the BCCI has reportedly begun exploring leadership alternatives for India ahead of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Among the potential candidates, Hardik Pandya is coming out as a strong contender to lead the Men in Blue in the tournament.

"Hardik has the knack for leading in high-pressure situations, and his experience as an all-rounder and leader makes him an ideal choice for an ICC tournament like the Champions Trophy," a source told My Khel as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Rohit retired from 20-over international cricket in 2024 after leading India to the T20 World Cup title win, making way for Suryakumar Yadav to take charge. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has been identified as a potential leader for India in red-ball format, following his successful captaincy stint in Perth.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 to start on February 19, India vs Pakistan on February 23

Pandya’s name has consistently emerged as a candidate for India’s leadership role. The all-rounder has successfully led the Indian team in various white-ball formats over the last couple of years and has been taking the captaincy duties in the past three seasons of IPL.

While other players like Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are also being considered, Hardik’s leadership in pressure situations puts him ahead of the pack. According to reports, Gill still needs more time to mature as a leader, and Suryakumar has yet to make his place in the ODI line-up.

"Gill needs more grooming to mature into a leader, and SKY's ODI performances haven't been convincing enough. Hardik remains the most balanced option to lead India in ODIs, if Rohit is unavailable," the report further added.

India's ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule: