Representing India is any cricketer’s ultimate dream, but leading the national team is an honor that only a few get to experience. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently reflected on his captaincy journey with Team India, sharing his thoughts on leadership and the responsibilities that come with leading a country. Hardik has led India in both T20Is and ODIs and explained that he always believed that leadership isn’t about titles, but actions.
Hardik Pandya reflects on his experience of captaining Team India
During a conversation on SGTV , Hardik clarified that he never pursued leadership roles and always believed he could impact the team even without officially being the captain. According to the all-rounder, earning the trust of teammates and setting the right example is far more important than the captaincy tag.
“In terms of leadership, I never doubted myself. I don’t play for roles or to have a name on my name. It was always about being a leader, knowing I have the power and presence in any team where all 11 players will follow me if I ask them to. I always believed you don’t have to be a captain to be a leader. You can be a leader even as a player,” Hardik said.
The all-rounder also admitted that becoming India’s captain was a proud moment, but he enjoyed it only briefly and then focused on the team’s progress. He said he doesn’t like to get emotionally attached to positions or achievements, but instead focuses on contributing to the team’s success.
“Very fortunate and grateful. I never played for it. But it’s everyone’s dream to start their journey playing for India, but becoming captain is another honor. But that feeling only lasted for five minutes. After that, it was time to think about what we could do better. I enjoyed that moment for five minutes and cherished it. I don’t hold these things too close, because they can go away at any moment,” he concluded.
Hardik’s record as India captain
Hardik first led India in the T20I series against Ireland in 2022, followed by the ODI team against Australia in 2023. To date, he has captained India in 19 international matches across both white-ball formats. He also led the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL , guiding GT to the title in their debut season.
In T20Is, Hardik led the Blues in 16 matches, with 10 wins, 5 losses, and one no-result. He also led India in three ODIs, registering two wins and one loss. Although he missed the recent white-ball tour of England due to injury, Hardik remains one of the country’s most experienced leaders and a key figure in the team’s plans.