NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the Indian cricket team even if Hardik Pandya is in the playing 11 for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States of America.
The Indian selection committee recently announced a 16-member squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan, and Chopra shared his thoughts on the captaincy dynamics in a video on his YouTube channel.
While Mumbai Indians elected Hardik Pandya as their captain for the IPL 2024, Chopra believes that Rohit Sharma should lead the Men in Blue in the T20 World Cup.
"Rohit Sharma is now the captain and I feel he will be the captain in the World Cup as well. I feel this was a landmark selection, because if Rohit remains captain, he will play the World Cup. If he plays the World Cup, then he will be the captain," said Chopra.
Chopra dismissed the possibility of Hardik Pandya becoming the captain upon his return to the team, emphasizing that the chances of Rohit not being the captain if he is in the team are very slim.
"Don't think that Hardik will become captain once he is back. I can almost give it in writing. I can't guarantee anything but the chances are very less that Rohit Sharma will be there and won't be the captain," stated Chopra.
1/9:Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli return to India's T20I squad
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2/9:Comeback after 14-month gap
<p>Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last appeared in a T20I for India in the T20 World Cup semifinal against England in November 2022.</p>AFP
3/9:Rohit Sharma to lead India
Hardik Pandya's injury in the ODI World Cup and Suryakumar Yadav's ligament tear resulted in a lot of inexperience at the top of the order.Getty Images
4/9:Rohit may lead India in T20 WC too
While Rohit's chances of leading India in the T20 World Cup has considerably brightened, the development comes across as a big blow to Hardik's captaincy ambitions at the global event in June.Getty Images
5/9:Sanju Samson in the squad
The T20 squad also featured Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, who will be the two glovesmen with Ishan Kishan being ignored for the shortest format.AFP
6/9:Bumrah, Jadeja rested
Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, the two Test team certainties, have been rested and Ruturaj Gaikwad isn't fit to play yet.PTI
7/9:India's last series before the World Cup
All-rounder Shivam Dube has also been named in the squad in Hardik's absence. The Afghanistan series will be India's last before the World Cup, which takes place right after the IPL.PTI
8/9:'It's a very tough decision'
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith reckons leaving out the likes of Rohit and Kohli from any team is extremely tough.PTI
9/9:India's Squad for 3 T20Is against Afghanistan
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.PTIThe T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in June 2024, and Chopra's prediction adds an interesting perspective to the captaincy debate within the Indian cricket team.
India squad for Afghanistan T20I series: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
(With inputs from ANI)
