Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly recently expressed his opinion that Rohit Sharma should take on the captaincy role across all formats once he returns to the playing squad. Ganguly’s endorsement comes amidst ongoing discussions about Rohit’s captaincy, especially in T20Is, following India’s disappointment in the ODI World Cup final. While Rohit Sharma has been absent from T20Is for over a year, there are strong indications that he will lead the team in the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.
Ganguly emphasized Rohit’s track record in the World Cup as a key factor in supporting his captaincy bid. The former BCCI president stated, “Once Rohit is back playing all formats, he should be the captain of India, because he has done so well in the World Cup.” Rohit was initially expected to resume captaincy during the South Africa tour, but he, like Virat Kohli, requested a break from the entire white-ball leg.
In Rohit Sharma absence, Suryakumar Yadav is set to captain the T20I squad against South Africa, while KL Rahul will lead the ODI side. India is scheduled to play three T20Is and three ODIs before entering the World Test Championship with a two-match Test series against South Africa. The return of Rohit Sharma, Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah is anticipated for the Test series, with Rohit Sharma leading the side.
Ganguly emphasized the importance of Rohit and Kohli in India’s T20I setup, considering their stellar performances in the recent World Cup. He stated, “You saw in the World Cup how well they played. They are absolutely integral and an important part of Indian cricket.”
Both Rohit and Kohli have not played a T20I since the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinals against England, leading to uncertainty about their involvement in the T20 global showpiece in six months. After the 2022 T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya was appointed India’s T20 captain, but Suryakumar Yadav has taken over the leadership role in the ongoing five-T20 series against Australia due to Pandya’s injury.
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Ganguly acknowledged the unique challenges of World Cups compared to bilateral series, highlighting the different pressures involved. He praised Rohit as a natural leader and expressed his expectation that Rohit would continue as captain until the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Addressing the decision of Rohit and Kohli to take a break from the limited-overs matches of the South Africa tour, Ganguly supported their choice. He noted the intensity of the ODI World Cup, stating, “Very rightfully, they have taken a break because there is so much cricket all the time.” Ganguly expressed understanding for the players, emphasizing the difficulty of transitioning from a World Cup final to a T20I series in just a few days.
Ganguly expressed optimism that the break would allow Rohit and Kohli to come back fresh for the upcoming challenges, including the five-Test series against England, the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the T20 World Cup. He acknowledged the relentless nature of the cricket calendar and hoped the players would return rejuvenated to continue their outstanding performances.
In conclusion, Sourav Ganguly’s endorsement of Rohit Sharma as the captain across all formats reflects the confidence in Rohit’s leadership abilities and his past contributions, especially in major tournaments like the World Cup. The break taken by Rohit and Kohli is seen as a prudent decision to manage the demanding cricket schedule and ensure the players remain in peak condition for the upcoming challenges on the cricketing horizon. The anticipation is high for Rohit’s return and his potential captaincy in the T20 World Cup, with fans eagerly looking forward to seeing his strategic acumen and leadership on display once again.