Days after losing the World Cup 2023 final, India skipper Rohit Sharma will have to confront the reality of his future in India’s white-ball teams.
The T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies is only 7 months away, and India play only three more T20I series – 5 T20Is against Australia, 3 T20Is in South Africa, and 3 T20Is against Afghanistan and then the IPL 2024 before the T20 WC in June.
Rohit Sharma, who is 36 years of age, is already rested from the Australia T20I series.
Times Of India has reported that Ajit Agarkar and the selection panel will sit down to have a chat with Rohit Sharma on his future in white-ball cricket. According to sources, Rohit has told the selectors the “he is fine with not being considered for T20Is” and has given the green signal to the selectors to appoint a new permanent T20I skipper.
About the ODI format, Rohit might be keen to play in the 2025 Champions Trophy, but is unlikely to remain at the top level until the 2027 World Cup, when he will be 40 years of age.
“Before the ODI World Cup, Rohit had communicated that he is fine not being considered for T20Is. The selectors have been investing heavily in youth in T20Is for the last year. With the T20 World Cup happening in June next year, they are reluctant to deviate from that strategy for a longer period of time,” TOI quoted a source.
“Rohit Sharma will be focusing a lot of his energy on the Test format”
Rohit Sharma has not played a single T20I since last year’s semi-final exit in Australia in Adelaide against England. Hardik Pandya has led India in T20Is this year, but Pandya will miss the upcoming Australia series due to injury. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side as KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah are also rested.
Rohit Sharma, though, is set to continue to lead the Test side.
“As of now, it seems Rohit will be focusing a lot of his energy on the Test format for the next cycle of the World Test Championship which runs till 2025. Grooming a captain for the longer formats is a key part of the agenda. With Hardik Pandya prone to injuries, selectors may look for options in ODIs,” the source added.
