Krunal Pandya is set to take over the captaincy of the Indian team in the upcoming Hong Kong Sixes T20 tournament. Initially, fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named as the captain when the squad was first announced. However, following his return to the Indian team after a gap of four years and his selection for the tour of New Zealand, a vacancy opened up for the leadership role in the six-a-side tournament. Consequently, Krunal Pandya was handed the captaincy, while Pawan Khejroliya was drafted into the squad in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Squad Composition and Key Players
The updated Indian squad for the tournament features several prominent names from domestic and franchise cricket. Krunal Pandya, who represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will lead the side as captain. Rahul Tripathi, associated with Kolkata Knight Riders, is also part of the lineup. Kulwant Khejroliya represents Gujarat Titans. Following the exit of fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pawan Khejroliya has been added to the team to bolster the bowling attack.
The Rationale Behind Krunal's Captaincy
The decision to appoint Krunal Pandya as captain stems from his strong recent form and wealth of experience. Krunal last played an international match for India in the year 2021. Since then, he has delivered consistent performances in domestic leagues and franchise cricket, cementing his reputation as a reliable all-rounder.
IPL Triumph and All-Round Brilliance
Krunal was a key member of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad that triumphed to win the IPL title for the second consecutive time in 2026. During that successful campaign, the experienced all-rounder claimed 14 wickets with the ball. With the bat, he scored 226 runs at an impressive average of 37.66 and a striking rate of 145.80. Alongside his back-to-back trophies with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Krunal has previously won the IPL title three times with Mumbai Indians, making him a seasoned leader for this format.
