Rohit Sharma could be the captain of ODIs and T20Is after the end of the ICC World T20 2021 in the UAE, replacing Virat Kohli whose batting has been impacted.
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Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team is on the ultimate high in the last couple of seasons. They reached the final of the ICC World Test Championship by finishing on top of the table. The Indian cricket team won a series in Australia and they have ensured they do not lose a series in England. But, there is one crucial aspect that has plagued the Indian cricket team for the last couple of seasons. Virat Kohli, the skipper in all three formats, has seen a dip in his batting form. He has not hit a century in all the formats for nearly two years. In 2020 and 2021 so far, Kohli’s average in Tests has been poor. His ODI and T20I form has been very good.
With the Indian cricket team now in high gear for the IPL and the ICC World T20 2021, the BCCI has reportedly taken a big decision. According to BCCI sources speaking to Times of India, Rohit Sharma may replace Virat Kohli as the captain in ODIs and T20Is after the end of the ICC World T20 2021 in the UAE.
Rohit has been in magnificent form in the last couple of seasons across all formats. In England, he finally hit his first overseas century in Tests. Rohit is the best white-ball opener in the world and he has helped Mumbai Indians win the IPL five times.
“Virat Kohli will make the announcement himself. He is of the view that he needs to concentrate on his batting. He wants to go back to becoming what he is and that is the world’s best batsman. BCCI has planned this well in advance in order to avoid confusion. Rohit and Virat are apparently on the same page in this matter,” the sources stated.
Kohli is India’s most successful captain ever. In 95 ODIs, he has won 65 while in 45 Twenty20 Internationals, he has won 29. In Test cricket, he has won 38 out of 65. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, has been sublime as captain. He won the Asia Cup and Nidahas Trophy in 2018 when Kohli was absent. In addition to five IPL titles, Rohit has won eight out of 10 ODIs while he has won 15 out of 19 T20Is.
This will not be the first time that India is trying split captaincy. In 2007/08, Anil Kumble was the Test captain while MS Dhoni was in charge of ODIs and T20Is. Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have experimented with split captaincy, with West Indies and Bangladesh having three captains for all the formats.
“If Rohit had to take over as the captain of white-ball cricket, it would be now. It is going to be a win-win situation for the team because the two senior cricketers are well in tune with each other. Virat realizes that the responsibilities of the captain are affecting his batting as well. He needs that space and freshness. If Rohit takes over as white ball captain, Virat can continue leading India in Tests. He can also work on his batting in ODIs and T20Is. He is going to turn 33 and looking at his fitness, he can continue playing for five to six years,” the source said.
The move by the BCCI after the end of the ICC World T20 could signal a new direction for Indian cricket in the next three years. With major ICC events in all three years till 2023, India is already looking ahead into the future.
