Former BCCI president and India skipper Sourav Ganguly has backed Rohit Sharma to lead the Indian team in the T20 World Cup in June next year. Rohit impressed many with his captaincy during the recently concluded ODI World Cup and Ganguly is also one of them as asserted that the swashbuckling did a great job in the mega ICC event and has the right experience to lead the Men in Blue in T20 WC. Rohit has not played any T20I since last year’s World Cup in Australia as in his absence Hardik Pandya led the charge in the shortest format.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has taken a break from the ongoing T20I series against Australia and the white-ball matches against South Africa beginning December 10. Apart from Rohit, former skipper Virat Kohli also took a break from the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour.
Talking to reporters, Ganguly said the duo deserved rest so that they come back “fresh” for the hectic calendar ahead.
“Once Rohit is back playing all formats, he should be the captain of India, because he has done so well in the World Cup,” said the former BCCI president, who was named the Dabur Chyawanprash’s brand ambassador for East India, during a program here.
“You saw in the World Cup how well they played. They are absolutely integral and an important part of Indian cricket.”
Meanwhile, the BCCI has not made a clear statement on whether the duo is in India’s scheme of things for the T20 global showpiece in six months’ time.
After the 2022 T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya was named India’s T20 captain but following his injury during the ODI World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav is leading the team in the ongoing five-T20 series against Australia.
“World Cups are different than a bilateral series because the pressures are different. They have been exceptional this World Cup and hopefully six-seven months down the line in the West Indies they will be again at their best,” Ganguly said.
“He’s (Rohit) a leader. I expect and I presume that he will continue as captain till the T20 World Cup in 2024.”
The duo will be back for the two-Test series in South Africa beginning with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.
“Very rightfully, they have taken a break because there is so much cricket all the time. I cannot imagine that you played a World Cup final on the 19th and in three days’ time you’re playing a T20I series against the same team,” Ganguly said.
“It is not easy to pick yourselves up, especially with the pressures and demands of the World Cup. I’m happy that they have got a break.
“They will come back fresh for Tests — there’re five Tests against England — there’s IPL, and then the T20 World Cup, so it’s non-stop cricket. Hopefully, they’ll come back fresh and keep performing.”
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