The BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, considered giving the T20I captaincy back to Rohit Sharma for the South Africa tour. However, the Indian skipper requested a longer break from the game after 4 months of grueling cricket leading to CWC 2023.
According to the Indian Express, in a video call from London during the selection meeting, Rohit conveyed that he wanted an extended break, and the selection committee agreed to his request.
The senior opener, who is currently on holiday in the UK with his family, will return as captain in the two-match Test series against South Africa, starting on December 26.
Though BCCI hasn't officially announced, but, likely, Rohit Sharma will soon resume his role as India's T20I captain and lead the team in the T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in the USA and West Indies. He last played in the format in T20 World Cup 2022.
Notably, Hardik Pandya served as the India T20I captain in Rohit's absence since the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, but no official announcement was made about permanent captaincy.
But Hardik's injury during the ODI World Cup 2023 forced the BCCI to look beyond him, as there is no timeline for the star all-rounder’s return to action. He will also miss the South African tour.
A BCCI source told PTI: “Rohit has been offered T20 captaincy but he is in the UK on holiday and wants an extended break after four months of gruelling season till end of the World Cup. But as captain, he has the highest respect for the dressing room and if he agrees to lead India in T20 World Cup, he will lead.”
It is being said that Hardik is no longer guaranteed to be the automatic choice for T20I captaincy in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 if Rohit decides to play in the shortest format of the game.
(With PTI Inputs)
