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[Saba Sports News] As India eagerly await the upcoming tour to South Africa, where the Men in Blue are set to engage in a series of three T20Is, three ODIs and two Test matches, the leadership scenario remains a focal point of speculation. While Rohit Sharma is poised to lead in the red-ball format, his availability for white ball cricket remains uncertain.
Having recently captained Team India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Rohit came agonizingly close to securing the coveted trophy only to see Australia shatter those dreams in the final. Despite the heartbreak, India now shift its focus to the African continent for the next cricketing challenge.
The key question revolves around who will lead the Indian side in the limited-overs formats. Complicating matters, Hardik Pandya, the regular T20I captain, is set to miss the South Africa series due to an ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup 2023.
Reports indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively seeking to persuade Rohit to captain the T20I side until the 2024 T20 World Cup. Impressed by Rohit’s leadership skills showcased in the ODI World Cup 2023, the BCCI sees him as a potential captain for the T20 series against South Africa.
A source within the BCCI, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed to PTI, “Yes, there remains a question what happens when Hardik comes back but in BCCI, they feel that if Rohit agrees to lead in T20Is, he will lead in the T20 World Cup. In case Rohit doesn’t agree then Surya continues as captain for T20Is in South Africa.”
Should Rohit take the reins in T20Is, strategic rest in the ODIs may be considered, allowing him to rejuvenate for the Test matches.
“The BCCI has always given preference to that particular white ball format which has a global tournament in next six months. ODIs post World Cup is third priority and three ODIs is a lot. Hence if Rohit leads in T20Is, he might take rest to freshen up for Tests. It will be decided by sports science team,” the source added.
Moreover, the report also stated that Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup will depend upon how they perform in IPL 2024.
As the tour dates draw near, the Indian cricketing community awaits official announcements regarding leadership roles and the composition of the squad for the challenging series against the Proteas. It is expected that in the next couple of days, the official squad announcement for the South Africa tour will be made, and the contingent will be picked in the presence of chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah in the meeting, where the roadmap of Indian cricket’s future will also be discussed.