• sportzyverse
• Cricket news
• 02/18/2024
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On Thursday, Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian cricket team in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup scheduled in June. A much-anticipated announcement ends days of speculation about India’s captaincy for the global event, bringing clarity to India’s leadership structure. Adding to the leadership arrangement, all-rounder Hardik Pandya will assume the role of vice-captain.

Jay Shah said "India will win the T20 World Cup under the leadership of Rohit Sharma". 🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/kPYEyf2WwO

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 14, 2024

Shah emphasized that the decision was a collective one, with the selectors unanimously aligning on Rohit Sharma as an all-format captain. He also pointed out the importance of continuity in leadership, especially in the scenario of unforeseen circumstances such as an injury to the vice-captain. Shah referred to Rohit Sharma’s exceptional performance in the recent Afghanistan T20I match, where his remarkable century turned the game around from a challenging position.

While acknowledging India’s impressive ten-game winning streak in the previous World Cup, Shah acknowledged the disappointment of falling short in the final, attributing it to the unpredictable nature of the game. Expressing confidence in Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, Shah confidently predicted India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup in Barbados on June 29.

Jay Shah Confirms: Rohit Sharma Will Captain India in T20 World Cup

This announcement was made at a function where the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium was renamed as the Niranjan Shah Stadium. Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and other Indian players attended the event.

The declaration came on the eve of the third Test against England in Rajkot, amidst a closely contested series. While Hardik Pandya emerged as a strong contender for the captaincy, especially after assuming the leadership role for the Mumbai Indians, Shah’s comments clarified the leadership dynamics for the Indian team.

In addition to the captaincy news, Shah addressed the issue of players participating in domestic cricket. He emphasized the significance of players, apart from those at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), complying with directives to participate in red-ball cricket as instructed by their captain and coach. Shah assured that injured players would be exempted from risking aggravation of their injuries during red-ball cricket.

Regarding the appointment of a new selector, Shah mentioned that the process would be finalized soon, following the ongoing Test series. In terms of selecting a new selector, he left the decision to the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).

Shah also offered strong support to Virat Kohli, who is currently absent from the England series due to personal reasons, dispelling any concerns about the former captain’s commitment and highlighting his right to request leave for genuine reasons in his illustrious 15-year cricketing career.