Hardik Pandya's fitness is crucial: Irfan Pathan

Hardik Pandya during a training session at Wankhede on Monday. Pic/AFP

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan is impressed with Hardik Pandya's captaincy approach but issued a warning to the team management to focus on the all-rounder's fitness "if they are going to look at him as a long-time captain."

Pandya will be handling captaincy duties in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which started yesterday. Moreover, he will also be Rohit Sharma's deputy in three three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka later this month. "I think from what I have seen with Hardik Pandya's captaincy for Gujarat Titans or India last year, I can see he has been communicating well," Pathan told Star Sports.

Irfan Pathan

Under Pandya's leadership, Gujarat Titans clinched the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their debut season last year. He also led India to a 1-0 series win over New Zealand in November last year.

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"I was impressed with his approach and composure as captain, but India have to keep in mind one thing if they are going to look at him as a long-time captain. He has to be focussed on his fitness quite a lot. Whether it's his duty or the team management's, his fitness is crucial, especially towards the business end of major tournaments," he said.

"With captaincy, the workload also increases. A captain can't miss many matches," Pathan added.

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