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Rohit Sharma, the stalwart of Indian cricket, has recently announced his retirement from T20 Internationals (T20Is). This decision came on the heels of India’s triumphant victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 held in the Caribbean and the United States of America (USA). Rohit, who played a pivotal role in leading India to their World Cup win, will be missed not only for his batting prowess but also for his strategic acumen as captain.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy will be missed
Rohit’s absence will be deeply felt within the Indian cricket team, particularly his captaincy. His leadership skills, combined with his experience, have been instrumental in guiding the team through challenging matches. Under his captaincy, India has achieved significant milestones, including the recent World Cup victory. His retirement leaves a substantial void that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will need to address swiftly.
Can Hardik Pandya replace Rohit as full-time T20I captain?
With Rohit stepping down, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Hardik Pandya will take over as the full-time T20I captain. Hardik has already showcased his leadership abilities in the limited opportunities he has had. He has captained India in 16 T20Is, leading the team to victory in 10 of those matches. Additionally, Hardik has captained India in three ODIs and led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden IPL title in 2022, proving his mettle as a capable leader.
Also READ: Did Hardik Pandya call Natasa Stankovic after India’s T20 World Cup win? Fans speculate
BCCI secretary Jay Shah opens up
Addressing the speculation, BCCI secretary Jay Shah provided clarity on the matter. Shah emphasized that the decision regarding the new captain will be made after thorough discussions with the selectors. He acknowledged the doubts about Hardik’s form but highlighted that both the BCCI and the selectors had faith in him, and Hardik had justified their confidence with his performances. Shah emphasized that the official announcement regarding the captaincy would follow after a thorough evaluation by the selectors.
“Captaincy will be decided by the selectors, and we will announce it after discussing with them. You asked about Hardik, there were a lot of questions over his form, but we and the selectors showed faith in him, and he proved himself,” said Shah as quoted by India Today.
Shubman Gill to lead India in Zimbabwe
Notably, Team India will tour Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series starting July 6 at the Harare Sports Club. In the absence of several senior players, Shubman Gill will step in as the captain. Gill, who was part of the traveling reserves for the World Cup, will have the opportunity to showcase his leadership skills.
Following the Zimbabwe tour, India will also travel to Sri Lanka later for a three-match T20I series. However, the captain for the Sri Lanka series is yet to be decided, adding to the anticipation of who will be the next full-time T20I captain for India.
