Rohit Sharma will lead India at the 2024 men’s T20 World Cup. BCCI secretary Jay Shah made it clear, while speaking to the media at an event in Rajkot, adding that Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach of the team will also run till the global tournament. Rohit Sharma‘s experience would come in handy in the tricky pitches of West Indies & USA.
This will be the second time Rohit Sharma leads India at a T20 World Cup, having done it in 2022 as well. In that tournament, played in Australia, India lost the semi-final to eventual champions England. Rohit did not feature in T20Is after that, not playing a single T20I in 2023. But he was called back in January 2024, to lead against Afghanistan. That move from the selectors seemed to signal Rohit was all but certain to lead at the World Cup, which will be played in the USA and West Indies in June. Shah, today, confirmed the same.
The statement came in the presence of India captain Rohit Sharma, coach Rahul Dravid and chairman of men’s senior selection committee Ajit Agarkar. After the event got over, the BCCI secretary spoke in detail about the decision to give the charge to Rohit Sharma for the T20 World Cup.
India under the captainship of Rohit Sharma
Under Rohit, India lost last year’s ODI World Cup final at home, and days later Suryakumar Yadav was leading the T20I side against Australia. Suryakumar also led India in the shortest format in South Africa in December, and Mumbai Indians announced that Hardik Pandya would be taking over captaincy of the franchise from Rohit. Then, Rohit made his comeback against Afghanistan in January. After bagging ducks in the first two matches, he scored 121 not out, becoming the first man to five T20I hundreds.
Shah said that while Rohit will lead India at the World Cup, Hardik – who had led India in the shortest format in several series in 2023 – remains the primary long-term option. Shah said Rohit’s recall in the short term was necessitated by Hardik getting injured during the ODI World Cup. “In T20s, Hardik will be the captain for certain [in the future].
“Rohit has the ability, we know. As he showed in the ODI World Cup where we won 10 matches in a row until the final. I am confident that India will lift the 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in Barbados.”
Jay Shah also went on to express confidence in the opening batter Rohit Sharma to lead India to glory in the tournament.
India will clinch the T20 World Cup in Barbados on June 29 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy- Exclaims Jay Shah
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will captain Team India in the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup, set to begin in June in the West Indies and USA. Jay Shah also went on to express confidence in the opening batter to lead India to glory in the tournament.
With Hardik Pandya leading India in the shortest format after the last World Cup until the T20I series against Afghanistan in 2024, the expectation was that the all-rounder will lead the Men in Blue in the showpiece event. Nevertheless, India are set to stick to Rohit, with the BCCI Secretary ending all speculations.
Speaking at a function where the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium was renamed as the Niranjan Shah Stadium, the 35-year-old said the selectors and management are on board with Rohit as captain. He said:
“I have not made any comments about the 2023 World Cup, in which we lost the final in Ahmedabad. However, I can assure you that India will clinch the T20 World Cup in Barbados on June 29 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. At this point in time, Rohit is an all-format captain. It is a collective decision, and the selectors are fully aligned on the matter. Hardik Pandya will retain his position as vice-captain for the T20 World Cup,”
“If you recall the Afghanistan T20I match, we were in a tough spot at 27 for four, but Rohit’s remarkable century turned the game around. We can’t question his abilities. Although we won ten consecutive games in the World Cup, we fell short in the final. It’s part and parcel of the game,” Jay Shah added.
India played the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad on the back of winning 10 consecutive matches convincingly. However, Australia stunned them on the night of final, bringing their A-game to win by six wickets.
Jay Shah on Indian key players resting from red ball cricket due to workload.
With Indian players allegedly avoiding red-ball cricket to keep themselves fit for IPL 2024, Shah said he will write to them personally as playing longer formats is equally important. He added:
“It is a significant issue. I will be writing to all the players tomorrow. If your captain and coach instruct you to play, you must comply and participate in red-ball cricket. This directive applies to all players who are not at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). We will ensure that injured players do not risk aggravating their injuries by playing red-ball cricket and jeopardizing their chances in white-ball cricket. However, this directive applies to all young and fit players.”
The third Test between India and England will be played in Rajkot and will commence on Thursday, February 15.
After a disappointing defeat at the hands of Australia in the ODI World Cup final in 2023, there were a lot of doubts, with many reports claiming that Hardik Pandya would captain India in the shortest format. Shah, however, has shown his confidence in Rohit Sharma , who has played a key role in helping Mumbai Indians win five IPL trophies in the past. Looking at his track record, the management backed him. Shah also stated confidently that India will win the upcoming T20 World Cup under the leadership of Rohit Sharma .