T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma to lead India

India’s captain in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup will be Rohit Sharma. Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, stated as much to the media today during a Rajkot event.
Additionally, he states that when healthy, centrally contracted players must participate in domestic cricket.

Rohit will be leading India in the T20 World Cup for the second time; he did the same in 2022. India was defeated by eventual champions England in the semi-final of the Australia-hosted tournament. After that, Rohit did not participate in any Twenty20 Internationals and did not appear in any in 2023. However, he was called back to spearhead the charge against Afghanistan in January 2024. The selectors’ decision appeared to indicate that Rohit will almost definitely lead the team in the June World Cup, which will be held in the USA and the West Indies. Shah reaffirmed the same today.

At a function to rename the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium, Shah declared, “He was obviously going to [lead in the T20 World Cup] given that he was returning after a year to lead in the Afghanistan series.”

India’s ODI World Cup final under Rohit was lost at home, and days later Suryakumar Yadav was captaining the T20I team against Australia. In December, Suryakumar also captained India in the shorter format in South Africa. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians declared that Hardik Pandya would succeed Rohit as team captain. Then, in January, Rohit returned to action against Afghanistan. He became the first player to five T20I hundreds when he hit 121 not out following two matches in which he bagged ducks.

Shah stated that although Hardik, who had led India in the shortest format in many series in 2023, is still the preferred long-term option, Rohit will captain the country at the World Cup. Shah remarked that Hardik’s injury sustained during the ODI World Cup made Rohit’s recall necessary in the near term. “Hardik will undoubtedly be the captain of the T20 team in the future.

“We are aware that Rohit is capable. As demonstrated during the ODI World Cup, where we advanced to the final by winning ten straight games. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, I have no doubt that India will win the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.”

Will Virat Kohli play at the T20 World Cup?

Ajit Agarkar, a former pacer, oversaw India’s selection committee, which had also called up Virat Kohli for the Twenty20 International Series against Afghanistan. Kohli returned to the format for the first time since the 2022 T20 World Cup, much like Rohit.

When asked if Kohli will participate in the June showcase event, Shah simply replied, “We will talk about him [soon].” Due to personal circumstances, Kohli was unable to play in the opening game of the Afghanistan series; however, he did play in the last two games, recording 29 points and one duck.

After choosing to skip the England Test series for personal reasons, Kohli has not played again. Shah gave no further information on Kohli’s absence other than to say that the BCCI will continue to support him. “It is a person’s right to request personal leave for the first time in a 15-year career. A player like Virat would never request a leave of absence without cause. We must support and have faith in our player.”

Chances of India travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy

In addition, Shah was questioned about India’s plans to visit Pakistan in 2019 for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is slated to take place in February or March. Shah stated that the Indian government should make that decision rather than the BCCI.
“India’s position [on travelling to Pakistan] would be based on what the government decides,” he stated.

Prior to Pakistan’s trip to India for the 2023 World Cup, the PCB-hosted Asia Cup took place in August and September of last year, with all of India’s matches taking place in Sri Lanka. India has not visited Pakistan for a cricket series since the 2008 Asia Cup due to the tense political relations between the two nations.

Shah says it’s mandatory for contractual players to participate in domestic cricket

Shah added that participating in domestic cricket competitions as instructed is a must for players under central contracts as well as those in the larger India pool who have been selected by the national selection. Shah claimed to have recently spoken with Agarkar and given him “free hand” to answer calls regarding the situation.
Shah’s view on this matter was explicitly requested due to concerns raised by wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who has been excluded from the India selection for the current England Test series but has not been participating in the Ranji Trophy for Jharkhand.

Shah stated that although he would not directly bring attention to Kishan, he will shortly be sending out a directive for all fit players under central contract to make themselves available for selection in domestic cricket. “Tomorrow, I will draft a letter stating that you must play red-ball cricket if instructed to do so by the captain, coach, or chairman of selectors. Regarding player fitness, we shall heed the advise of the medical personnel of the NCA [National Cricket Academy]. No justification [for not playing] will be accepted if you are fit.

All players under central contract are required to participate in this. The decision of a player’s future must be made by the selectors. The player must participate in [the format] if he excels in red-ball.”