MUMBAI: Winning a world title in any format is top of Hardik Pandya’s target list as he leads a new-look India T20 team against Sri Lanka, he said on Monday.

All-rounder Pandya was appointed captain of the 16-member side, who will be without regular skipper Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli, for the three T20 matches starting on Tuesday in Mumbai.

Both Rohit and Kohli will return for the three ODIs to follow as India begin preparations to host the 50-over World Cup later this year.

“The biggest new year resolution is to win the World Cup,” Pandya told reporters on the eve of the Sri Lanka series.

India would try to “go out there and give everything”, he said, adding: “I think things are looking bright.”

India, led by Rohit, were hammered by England in the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, ending their hopes of a first world title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Published in Dawn newspaper on January 3, 2023