Following Hardik Pandya's interim stint as captain in Rohit Sharma's absence, the long-standing debate over India's skipper for the upcoming T20 World Cup seems to have met its conclusion.
In a definitive statement, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has emphatically declared Rohit Sharma as the chosen leader to guide India's campaign in the tournament, set to be played in the Caribbean Islands and USA.
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VIDEO | Here’s what Asian Cricket Council president and BCCI secretary Jay Shah (@JayShah) said while addressing an event in Rajkot.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2024
“In 2023 (final) at Ahmedabad, even though we did not win the World Cup after 10 straight wins, we won hearts. I want to promise you that in 2024… pic.twitter.com/GcEJjSdiLs
Jay Shah declares Rohit Sharma skipper for T20 World Cup 2024
Speaking at the Niranjan Shah Stadium event in Rajkot, Shah left no room for ambiguity as he reiterated India's faith in Rohit as captain.
“In 2023, even though we narrowly missed clinching the World Cup after an impressive streak of 10 victories, we captured the hearts of millions. I can assure you that in 2024, under Rohit Sharma's stewardship, we will proudly raise the tricolor in Barbados,” Shah proclaimed with unwavering confidence.
The decision to entrust Rohit with the captaincy reins stems from his commendable leadership stint in various formats of the game, a sentiment echoed by Shah during his address.
“Rohit's return to the fold in the recent series against Afghanistan signaled our intent to continue with him at the helm. His remarkable innings, steering India from a precarious position of 22/4 to a commanding 212/4, epitomizes his leadership caliber,” Shah affirmed.
Acknowledging Rohit's resilience and adaptability, Shah emphasized, “He possesses the fortitude to lead, as evidenced by our impressive run of 10 victories in the ODI World Cup. While the final result didn't swing in our favor, it's an intrinsic aspect of the sport. The one who performs better emerges victorious.”
The confirmation of Rohit's captaincy reign comes amidst Pandya's rehabilitation journey following an ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup last year.
With Pandya focused on regaining fitness ahead of the Indian Premier League, where he is slated to lead the Mumbai Indians, the stage is set for Sharma to steer India's T20 World Cup campaign with aplomb. Pandya will be the vice-captain while Dravid will be head coach of the team in the tournament, according to Shah.
“Hardik is currently vice captain and why are you thinking about the future? Talk about the present, as of now Rohit Sharma is India's all-format captain,” Shah said.
Shah's proclamation has laid to rest all confusions, cementing Rohit Sharma's position as the skipper in India's quest for T20 World Cup glory.
