The BCCI on Saturday (February 19) picked Team India’s squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting March 4 in Mohali.
After Virat Kohli’s decision to quit Test captaincy following the South Africa series last month, everyone was eagerly waiting for the squad announcement and the Chetan Sharma-led selection panel ended the speculation by naming Rohit Sharma as skipper, which now makes him a leader of all three formats.
After announcing Rohit as the Test captain, chief selector Chetan Sharma said that the opening batter is the number one cricketer in the country.
"As far as Rohit Sharma is concerned, he is the number one cricketer of our country, he is playing all three formats of the game. The important thing is how we manage Rohit, cricketers manage their bodies. From time to time we will be in discussion with Rohit. If such a big cricketer is leading the country, we as selection committee want to groom further captains, and grooming them under Rohit will be tremendous," said Chetan during a virtual press conference.
"It is hard to predict what problems can arise in the future, Rohit is fit and fine right now. We will give rest to every cricketer of ours, we want to give them proper rest. A body requires rest, we will see how things pan out and we will decide how will be getting the rest," he added.
Further commenting on Rohit’s appointment as Test captain, Chetan said: "Rohit was a clear choice of ours, we are very happy with naming him as captain. We will groom future captains under him, let's hope everything goes right and if things pan out how we want them to, it will be really good."
"If Rohit keeps leading for a long time, then it would be really good for us. But no one can predict it, as long as Rohit is available and fit, he will be the Test captain. When he wants to rest, we will give him the rest," he added.
The chairman of the selection committee also informed that Washington Sundar and KL Rahul are ruled out of Sri Lanka T20 and Test series unless they recover early. He further said that veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is subject to fitness while Akshar Patel is still recovering in rehab and might get fit by the second Test match.
(With ANI inputs)
