New Delhi, Mar 22(Cricket News)The IPL-15, former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri said on Tuesday, is an opportunity to discover a "strong" future captain for the Indian cricket team. From Rishabh Pant to Shreyas Iyer, the forthcoming tournament may be mostly about identifying India's future leaders. He praised India's current captain Rohit Sharma for a "amazing" job. "Virat is no longer captain, but Rohit has been equally impressive, particularly in white ball. India will consider who will captain the squad (in the future) — the options include Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul. "India will be searching for a solid captain in the future, and this is the opportunity," Shastri said Tuesday during a news conference hosted by Star Sports, the IPL's official broadcaster. "… That is the beauty of the IPL; during the last edition, we saw Venkatesh Iyer; he was unknown prior to the tournament and by the time it concluded, he was a member of the Indian team. As a result, you anticipate the unexpected." Hardik Pandya, the Gujarat Titans' skipper, has remained tight-lipped about his comeback to bowling, but Shastri feels the entire country would be "very attentively following" his every move in the 2019 IPL. Pandya is scheduled to head the Gujarat Titans team when the new club makes its IPL debut in 2022. The star Indian all-rounder has yet to play a competitive match following last year's ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE due to a lower back ailment. "The entire country will be watching Hardik Pandya intently in the IPL; we all know what he is capable of," Shastri said Tuesday during a press conference hosted by Star Sports, the IPL's official broadcaster. Shastri and Suresh Raina have been added to Star Sports' elite commentary crew for the lucrative league. "Along with Hardik, there will be a slew of other players vying for a spot on the Indian team." Shastri also stated that quick bowling may receive more attention than any other aspect of the 2019 IPL, considering the upcoming T20 World Cup would be held on Australia's hard and bouncy fields. On Saturday, the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League begins with a match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. "One thing I can say is that they will be paying close attention to the fast bowling section above all else, given they will be visiting Australia four months after the IPL," Shastri added. Numerous youngsters have been handed opportunities to play for India under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, and Shastri is watching to see how these players improve their case with strong performances in the Indian Premier League. "I'd rather concentrate on guys who have recently been given an opportunity and how they perform in the IPL…. It will now be critical to monitor how these players perform in the IPL and bolster their positions." Shastri returns to the commentary box following a seven-year hiatus. He will, however, be a member of the Hindi commentary crew, something he has not previously done. This year's tournament will feature ten teams, including the Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. "The competition will be fierce this time around, with two new teams joining the fray. There are now a number of teams who will give you a run for your money. The combination has been excellent, and it bodes well for a very strong league," Shastri remarked. 

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News Source: PTI