The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is believed to be contemplating a proposal to persuade Rohit Sharma to captain the Indian team in the T20 format, despite his earlier reluctance, following the semi-final exit in the 2022 World T20. The BCCI officials, including secretary and selection committee convenor Jay Shah, intend to meet with panel chairman Ajit Agarkar in New Delhi to finalize the squads for the upcoming South Africa series and to strategize for the forthcoming T20 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma’s leadership acumen gained vast appreciation during his recent stint at the ODI World Cup. This has led the BCCI to trust in his capabilities to guide the Indian team in white-ball cricket until the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in the Americas in mid-2024. With the current T20 skipper Hardik Pandya sidelined due to an ankle ligament injury sustained during the ODI World Cup, the BCCI faces a decision: to handover the reins to Suryakumar Yadav or to hope for Rohit’s acceptance of the captaincy role.
According to a source within the BCCI who spoke to PTI on conditions of anonymity, the board’s sentiment is clear – if Rohit Sharma consents to captain the T20 side, he will also lead at the T20 World Cup. If he declines, Suryakumar Yadav will continue to helm the team during their South Africa matches. Adding to the intrigue, star player Virat Kohli has requested a hiatus from the white-ball games during the South African tour.
The BCCI’s decision-making is also influenced by players’ performances in the IPL, particularly for Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Rahul’s participation in T20 Internationals hinges on his role as a wicket-keeper batter for his IPL team, the Lucknow Super Giants.
Amidst the discussions, the BCCI is tackling the challenge of managing the players’ workloads as the team is scheduled to play six white-ball matches over a span of 11 days, incorporating three back-to-back 50-over games. Subsequently, a Test series will initiate just five days after the conclusion of the limited-overs games.
Considering that the BCCI prioritizes white-ball formats leading into global tournaments, the team’s ODIs post a World Cup have become a lower priority. Accordingly, if Rohit Sharma leads the T20 Internationals, he may opt to rest before rejoining for the Test matches, a decision that will be guided by the sports science team of the BCCI.
In regards to the Test team compositions, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are anticipated to return following their injury recoveries. This could potentially lead to the exclusion of Ajinkya Rahane from the squad, with Cheteshwar Pujara also on the fringes of selection. The possibility of retaining Rahane depends on whether KL Rahul undertakes wicket-keeping duties in the Tests, rendering an opening for an additional batsman.
The Indian pace attack appears robust with Jasprit Bumrah declaring his fitness and readiness to continue in Test cricket. He is joined by a potent pace battery comprising Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur. Mukesh Kumar has also emerged as a fascinating choice for a reserve pacer role.
As for the spin department, Ravindra Jadeja is the automatic first pick for overseas conditions. He will be supported by Ravichandran Ashwin and either Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav rounding up the spin trio.
However, change could also be in the air for wicket-keeping responsibilities. The spot may be up for grabs if KL Rahul chooses not to don the gloves, paving the way for Kona Bharat, who has had disheartening performances with the bat, to step in, albeit the chances seem slim.
The BCCI is currently focusing on a strategic approach to ensure a robust squad for all formats as it prepares for a grueling schedule leading up to the sought-after T20 World Cup. With the conundrum around captaincy and player management, holding onto the trophy’s aspirations remains a challenge that only time will unfold.