India’s T20I captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli have been the subject of much speculation regarding their T20I future since the conclusion of the ODI World Cup 2023. With the T20 World Cup 2024 just around the corner, there are ongoing discussions about whether the duo will participate in the tournament or if the team management will put its faith in the younger players to end India’s ten-year drought of ICC trophies.
According to reports, Rohit discussed his T20I future during a recent meeting with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) in Delhi, where the squad for the South Africa tour was selected and India’s performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 was reviewed.
Rohit Sharma, who joined the meeting via Zoom call from London, reportedly inquired with the selectors about whether they desired him to participate in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA.
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The BCCI officials present in the meeting, namely Secretary Jay Shah, Vice President Rajeev Shukla, and treasurer Ashish Shelar, along with head coach Rahul Dravid and selectors, unanimously agreed that Rohit is the ideal choice to lead India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, according to a report in Dainik Jagran.
BCCI even proposed that the skipper take on the captaincy of the T20I side starting with the South Africa tour. However, he requested a break from the tour’s white-ball leg following a grueling World Cup campaign and will return to lead the team in a two-match Test series.
Notably, Rohit and Kohli haven’t played a T20I since India’s humiliating ten-wicket loss against England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022. In his absence, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been leading the side since then. However, his ankle injury in the ODI World Cup 2023 has cast doubt on Pandya’s availability for the T20 World Cup 2024, prompting selectors to offer the leadership role to Rohit.
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The BCCI and the NCA have reportedly devised a specialized 18-week program to prepare Pandya for the World Cup. Meanwhile, India has just six more T20Is left before the T20 extravaganza, and they will be eager to finalize their playing combination for the mega event in the remaining two series.
