Speculations had been rife about star all-rounder Hardik Pandya potentially captaining India during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to take place in West Indies and USA this year. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah put an end to these rumors.
As per the announcement made by Shah on Wednesday (February 14), seasoned India opener Rohit Sharma will captain the Indian cricket team in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Hardik Pandya has been appointed as the vice-captain, and Rahul Dravid will serve as the coach for the team.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 kicks off on June 1st, with the final slated for June 29th in Barbados. India is set to face Pakistan in New York on June 9.
Given that all-rounder Hardik Pandya is still recuperating from an ankle injury, which he sustained in October last year, the board believes it’s best for Rohit to continue as the skipper in the format.
“Rohit was captaining (in the past in other formats) and he came back for the Afghanistan series, which means we were going to let him continue forward,” Shah said on the sidelines of the ceremony to rename the SCA Stadium after former board secretary Niranjan Shah, PTI reported.
“If Hardik was injured in the (2023 ODI) World Cup, who else can we give the captaincy?” asked Shah, indicating if the all-rounder gets injured during the course of the 2024 T20 World Cup, who will replace him as captain.
“In the third T20I against Afghanistan, India were 22/4 and the way he (Rohit Sharma) took the team to 212/4, we can’t question much about him, right?” he added.
“He (Rohit) has the ability, as I said, we won 10 games in the ODI World Cup. We didn’t win the final, but it’s part and parcel of the game. Whoever plays better, wins,” Shah expressed.
Earlier during the function to rename the SCA Stadium, Shah said, “In 2023 (final) at Ahmedabad, even though we did not win the World Cup after 10 straight wins, we won hearts. I want to promise you that in 2024 (T20 World Cup) in Barbados (venue for the final), under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, ham Bharat ka jhanda gaadenge (we will hoist the Indian flag).”
Jay Shah delivered the speech before an audience comprising several dignitaries, including former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Anil Kumble, along with IPL chairman Arun Dhumal.
(With PTI Inputs)