The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will continue to captain the Indian team for the upcoming Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship (WTC) final, provided the team qualifies.
This announcement comes on the heels of India’s recent triumph in the T20 World Cup, where they ended an 11-year ICC title drought with a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in Barbados.
“After the T20 World Cup win, the next target is to win the WTC final and the Champions Trophy. I have full confidence that under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, we will be champions in both the tournaments,” Shah said in a video message. This endorsement from Shah highlights the board’s faith in Sharma’s leadership, especially after his successful stint in the T20 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, who played pivotal roles in securing the T20 World Cup title, have announced their retirement from T20 Internationals. This decision marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, as the trio has been instrumental in numerous victories over the years. Shah dedicated the T20 World Cup victory to the outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid and the retiring trio, acknowledging their significant contributions to Indian cricket.
The BCCI secretary also praised the performances of youngsters Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav. Their efforts in the last five overs of the T20 World Cup final were crucial in ensuring India’s comeback and eventual victory.
“This was our third final within a year. On June 11 last year, we lost the WTC final. On November 19, after winning 10 matches, we won hearts but failed to win the ODI World Cup. But as I had said earlier this year in Rajkot, India proceeded to win hearts and the World Cup under Rohit’s leadership,” Shah added.
Despite Rohit turning 38 next year, the BCCI believes in maintaining continuity in leadership rather than making frequent changes. However, the board is preparing for the future, with Hardik Pandya expected to take over as the T20I captain. Additionally, a new head coach will be appointed starting from the tour of Sri Lanka later this month.
The upcoming Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan in February-March next year. However, there remains uncertainty about whether the Indian team will travel to the neighbouring country, given the current geopolitical tensions.
Regarding the WTC, India is currently leading the points table, with Australia trailing in second place. Under Rohit’s captaincy, the Indian team will aim to secure their place in the WTC final by performing well in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia. If they qualify, it will be India’s third consecutive appearance in the WTC final. In the previous two finals, India faced defeats against New Zealand in 2021 and Australia last year.
As India prepares for these significant tournaments, the focus will be on sustaining the momentum gained from the T20 World Cup victory. The combination of experienced leadership and emerging talent provides a promising outlook for Indian cricket, with hopes high for further success on the global stage.
