I expect and I presume that Rohit will continue as captain till the T20 World Cup in 2024 – Sourav Ganguly
Inspired by his leadership during the ODI World Cup, former captain Sourav Ganguly supported Rohit Sharma on Friday, stating that he should captain India at least until the T20 World Cup in June of next year while Virat Kohli and Rohit, who guided India to the ODI World Cup final at home, have taken a “break” for the upcoming white-ball leg of the South Africa series.
Inspired by his leadership during the ODI World Cup, former captain Sourav Ganguly supported Rohit Sharma on Friday, stating that he should captain India at least until the T20 World Cup in June of next year.
Virat Kohli and Rohit, who guided India to the ODI World Cup final at home, have taken a “break” for the upcoming white-ball leg of the South Africa series, which starts on December 10. In an interview with reporters, Ganguly stated that the two needed this time off to return “fresh” for the hectic schedule ahead.
“Once Rohit is back playing all formats, he should be the captain of India, because he has done so well in the World Cup,”
said the former BCCI president, who was named the Dabur Chyawanprash’s brand ambassador for East India, during a program.
“You saw in the World Cup how well they played. They are absolutely integral and an important part of Indian cricket.”
It’s interesting to note that neither Rohit nor Kohli have played a T20 international since losing to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinals. The BCCI was unsure of the pair’s place in India’s plans for the T20 global event, which takes place in six months.
Hardik Pandya was named India’s T20 captain after the 2022 T20 World Cup, but Suryakumar Yadav is now leading the team in the ongoing five-T20 series against Australia due to Pandya’s injury sustained during the ODI World Cup.
“World Cups are different than a bilateral series because the pressures are different. They have been exceptional this World Cup and hopefully six-seven months down the line in the West Indies they will be again at their best,”
Ganguly said.
“He’s (Rohit) a leader. I expect and I presume that he will continue as captain till the T20 World Cup in 2024.”
Beginning with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, the pair will return for the two-Test series in South Africa.
“Very rightfully, they have taken a break because there are so many crickets all the time. I cannot imagine that you played a World Cup final on the 19th and in three days you’re playing a T20I series against the same team,”
Ganguly said.
“It is not easy to pick yourselves up, especially with the pressures and demands of the World Cup. I’m happy that they have got a break.”They will come back fresh for Tests – there are five Tests against England — there’s IPL, and then the T20 World Cup, so it’s non-stop cricket. Hopefully, they’ll come back fresh and keep performing.”
The India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his experiences of being in a “dark space in life” and dealing with mental health issues.
Though Ashwin was left out of the ODI and T20I squads, he was named on Thursday in India’s squad for a two-match Test series against South Africa, which begins on December 26. The 37-year-old was included in India’s World Cup team recently, but he only participated in one match as the team captained by Rohit Sharma lost in the final to Australia.
Ashwin revealed that he went through a “dark space” a few years ago and sought mental health assistance to help him get through it.
“I am not being diplomatic, but for four to five years (since 2019), I found myself in a very dark space in life, and took help for mental health as well. In the dark space, I realized I have to be ready for any eventuality,”
Ashwin was quoted as saying by news agency PTI to former India batter S Badrinath on his YouTube channel ‘Cric It with Badri’.
Amidst doubts about his future, Ashwin revealed he would give up the day he ran out of motivation.
“I have been preparing for life after cricket for five years. But I continued to work hard on my cricket; to contribute with the bat, I went to the USA and practiced baseball. The day I lose this motivation, I feel irritated about waking up in the morning to bowl or bat, I know it is over. I will then quit immediately, say thanks to all, and go on to the next chapter in life,”
he added.
India and Australia are currently playing a five-match T20 International series. The fifth T20I is set for later on Sunday, with the hosts leading the series 3-1.
Later this month, India will play three T20Is, as many ODIs, and two Tests against the Rainbow Nation.
India’s squad for 3 T20Is: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chaha.
India’s squad for 3 ODIs: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (C)(wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar.
India’s squad for 2 Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohd. Shami*, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna.