Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif wants Rohit Sharma to lead India in the T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit recently led India to the final of the ODI World Cup but the hosts could not cross the last hurdle against Australia, who won the showpiece for the sixth time.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma had last played for India in the T20I format in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022 against England. Since then, Hardik Pandya has been leading the team in the shortest format of the game.
Rohit has amassed 3853 runs in 148 T20I matches at an average of 30.82. On the other hand, Rohit scored 597 runs in 11 matches of the World Cup 2023 at an average of 54.27 and a blistering strike rate of 125.95. The talisman scored three fifties and one century in the ODI showpiece.
Furthermore, Rohit has all the leadership experience under his belt and has led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles.
Speaking to IANS, Mohammad Kaif said, “You need skipper Rohit more than batter Rohit to lead the team in T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit Sharma has to be there because he has got the leadership quality. The way he led in the 50 overs World Cup, he has done a fantastic job as a leader…India will need his experience in T20s too. Rohit as a skipper as a batter did a fantastic job, which India will need in T20s as well.”
Meanwhile, Kaif is surprised to note Cheteshwar Pujara’s exclusion from the Test squad for the two-match series against South Africa.
“It will be hard for Shreyas Iyer to fill the shoes of Pujara. I don’t know why Pujara has not been selected. You can’t just get on the African tour without your prime batter, you just cannot rely on current or past forms, something you need the most is called experience, and India is going to miss it.”
Rohit Sharma has been rested from the limited-overs leg against South Africa whereas Pujara will look to bounce back strongly in the domestic circuit.
