A dramatic selection cycle for India’s 2026 T20 World Cup has seen unexpected shifts: Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill who was made the vice captain of the T20 side forcefully, was left out of the squad. With that, Axar Patel got back his vice‑captaincy under Suryakumar Yadav for the tournament. This raises an important question: if selectors decide to move on from Suryakumar as captain due to his loss of form, who is best suited to lead India? With the World Cup on home soil and India aiming to defend their title, leadership choices will be under intense scrutiny. Below is a fact‑based assessment of the top candidates — Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, and Abhishek Sharma — drawing on form, leadership experience, and recent data without speculation. 1 | Hardik Pandya: Among all available options, Hardik Pandya stands out as the best candidate to captain India in the absence of Suryakumar Yadav. He rose from the IPL leading the Gujarat Titans in their inaugural season and then taking them to the final in the very next season in 2023. Not only that, but he has also captained India in 16 T20 Internationals, securing 10 wins with a strong win percentage of around 65.6%. In addition to leadership, Hardik’s on‑field contributions make him a strong tactical captain. He is a genuine match‑winner with both bat and ball, consistently producing impactful performances, such as his recent explosive return against South Africa that played a key role in a T20I series victory. This dual role — as captain and game‑changer — would give India balance and flexibility when setting combinations and making critical decisions under pressure. 2 | Axar Patel: If Suryakumar is dropped as captain, Axar Patel becomes the most immediate alternative, largely because he is currently the vice‑captain of India’s T20 squad. As a left‑arm spin all‑rounder, he offers tactical balance not just with the ball, but also score crucial runs in the middle. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he captained the Delhi Capitals in the 2025 season, a role in which he was entrusted with leading a full franchise side, albeit with mixed results that nonetheless reflect valuable leadership exposure. Though Axar has yet to lead India’s senior side, his vice‑captaincy and franchise leadership make him a logical stopgap captain — especially in a transitional phase. He is a sensible interim pick while selectors consider longer‑term leadership planning. 3 | Sanju Samson Sanju Samson has extensive T20 leadership experience through the IPL, where he has captained Rajasthan Royals in over 60 matches with a win rate above 50%. His tactical instincts and ability to read T20 matches are evident in franchise cricket, which makes him a worthy contender when considering leadership options. However, Samson has never captained India at senior international level, and leading an IPL side does not guarantee success with national responsibilities. T20 Internationals test different dimensions of leadership — team culture, adaptability under global pressure, and strategic adjustments against stronger bowling attacks — all of which are largely untested in his international leadership record. 4 | Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah has captained India in three Test match and has been a senior leader in the bowling group through steady performances, but his role is better suited as an influence and tactical advisor rather than a full‑time captain. Workload management is a priority for him, for which he had reportedly denied full time Test captaincy. Given his seniority and already leading the bowling squad, Bumrah might get the chance to lead the tournament. 5 | Abhishek Sharma Abhishek Sharma boasts impressive youth leadership credentials, having captained India U19 to the Youth Asia Cup title and led Punjab to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win, and currently stands as one of India’s most destructive T20 batters. These experiences offer strong leadership potential, but Abhishek’s captaincy resume is largely limited to junior and domestic levels. While his on‑field batting exploits make him an exciting future leader, he lacks high‑pressure international captaincy exposure necessary for immediate T20 World Cup duties.