The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to sack Rohit Sharma as the Test captain after the West Indies tour next month.
It has been learned that Rohit Sharma’s Test captaincy has come under a cloud among the Board of Control for Cricket in India officials and selectors following India’s embarrassing 209-run loss in the WTC Final 2023 against Australia at The Oval. His selection call of leaving out R Ashwin and bowling first after winning the toss has copped a lot of flak from fans and ex-cricketers alike.
Rohit will captain the side in the 2-Test series in West Indies in July, however, there is no certainty that he will remain the skipper of the team in the longest format after that tour.
Will BCCI sack Rohit Sharma as Test captain?
PTI has reported that Rohit “will need to rake up some significant numbers in West Indies to prevent a question mark over his leadership” in Test cricket. “..the Board of Control for Cricket in India brass and the national selection committee will be under pressure to take a tough call if he fails to notch up at least one big knock,” the report added.
There are also some rumors that Rohit Sharma might himself decide to step down as Test captain ahead of the West Indies tour, as he has to focus on ODIs more now that the Asia Cup and World Cup 2023 are not far away.
“These are baseless stuff that Rohit will be removed from captaincy. Yes, whether he will last the whole two-year WTC cycle is a big question as he would be nearly 38 when the third edition ends in 2025,” a senior BCCI source in know of things told PTI.
“As of now, I believe that Shiv Sunder Das and his colleagues will have to take a call after the two Tests and looking at his batting form.
“After West Indies, we have no Tests till December-end when the team travels to South Africa. So there is enough time for selectors to deliberate and take a decision. By then the fifth selector (new chairman) will also join the panel and a decision can be taken,” he added.
