India skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed that he has no plans of immediate retirement from T20Is or stepping away from the shortest format just because it isn’t the preferred one this year from the team’s perspective.
The T20Is will take a backseat as far as the senior and all-format players are concerned because 2023 will see India host the ODI World Cup, while every Test series is also crucial with respect to the World Test Championship.
Because of resting and injury, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli haven’t played a single T20I after the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final exit. There have been reports and rumors of the BCCI deciding to drop Sharma from T20Is and make Hardik Pandya the full-time captain in view of the 2024 T20 WC.
Rohit Sharma made it clear that he hasn’t yet decided to move away from the shortest format.
When asked about his T20I future in the press conference on Monday, Rohit replied, “I have not given up on T20 cricket.”
Hardik Pandya led the T20I side in New Zealand and against Sri Lanka and won both the series with second-string squads against almost full-strength opponents, and is touted to take over from Sharma in the shortest format.
This ODI series against Sri Lanka is a comeback series for Sharma, who missed the Bangladesh Tests and the Sri Lanka T20Is due to a thumb injury.
Not just Rohit and Kohli, but the BCCI and selectors are also reported to be axing KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami from T20Is following two back-to-back disappointments in T20 World Cups.
Here are some fan reactions on Rohit Sharma’s recent comment:
Yes he wants us to loose one more wc
— Jatin Goyal (@JatinGo1920) January 9, 2023
He doesn’t fit in t20i team
Even didn’t fit in T20 WC Team!
Constantly Failed in 3 T20 WCs
He got his captaincy by IPL wins , By the same IPL stats ,he should’ve been dropped much earlier!
Chetan Sharma can save his face by delaying official announcement of hardik T20 ©️
— CV (@CVCricLover) January 9, 2023
Can’t really fault him tbh. This year will be most likely his last in odi and tests, he might want to play the 2024 wc but for that too happen he needs to perform, he should be picked on current form not past reputation
— Troll cricket unlimitedd (@TUnlimitedd) January 9, 2023
So unofficially hardik is t20i captain now?
— samarth gupta🇮🇳 (@samgupta3107) January 9, 2023
That means he is dropped
— iᴍ_Aʀʏᴀɴ18 (@crickohli18) January 9, 2023
Big blow for India
— Beast (@Beast_xx_) January 9, 2023
Yea cos if he quits then his ipl credentials (value) will go down as well
— Rajaditya Ghosh (@rajadityax) January 9, 2023
😭 karde bhai give up 🙏 thoda toh india ke future ke baare me soch.
— No One Knowz ❁ (@NoOne_Knowz) January 9, 2023
It will become clearer when the squad for the New Zealand T20I series is announced.
“Unfortunately, they won’t be picked or considered for NewZealand series. It’s not about they being dropped or anything, we feel we need to move and prepare the team for future. Finally, it is selectors who will have to take the decision & speak to the concerned,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.
“Every team has a short-term and long-term plan. ODI World Cup is our short-term plan. T20 WC is of course the long-term plan. The cycle has already begun. But we won’t get as many T20s this year to keep preparing for the WC. Instead, we have to look for opportunities where we can to prepare the team. If you look at the current squad, it’s the right mix. We only need experience in bowling. In two years, they will get there,” the official added.
