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Former India captain and selector, Krishnamachari Srikkanth has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma is set to captain India in the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit, who recently made a comeback to the T20I squad after a year's absence, has also been reinstated as captain for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan.
Following the announcement of the team, Srikkanth shared his insights on his YouTube channel. He opined that all indicators point towards Rohit leading the team at the ICC event, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA in June this year.
"All signs suggest that Rohit Sharma is going to lead India in T20 World Cup. That's how it's going. The very fact that he is made captain now… yes, Hardik Pandya is injured, Suryakumar Yadav, who was the deputy, is also not available due to injury. Jasprit Bumrah is also not there. Obviously, Rohit Sharma will be the captain," said Srikkanth.
"See, Mumbai Indians making Hardik Pandya captain is the franchise's choice. From the team selection, Rohit Sharma will only captain India in T20 World Cup in all probability. It's moving toward that," he added.
Srikkanth also reflected on Rohit’s ambition and drive, especially after he missed the ODI World Cup. He believes that Rohit is highly motivated to clinch the T20 World Cup as a captain. Srikkanth further anticipates that Rohit will approach the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a sense of freedom and exhibit the same aggressive style of play that he displayed in the previous year's ODI World Cup.
"Rohit will play with total freedom in the IPL. He will play attacking cricket, like he did in the World Cup. The wound of losing the World Cup is not over for him. If India had beaten Australia on November 19, things would have been different. He now wants to win a World Cup as a captain. A T20 World Cup is a World Cup at the end of the day. He would love to achieve it. Yes, 50-over World Cup is considered big, but if you win a T20 World Cup, you are still a World Cup-winning captain," said Srikkanth.
In his conclusion, Srikkanth emphasised that Rohit is keen to make a statement and is determined to secure a World Cup victory as the captain, a milestone that would further cement his legacy in the sport.
"At the end of the day, he wants to prove a point to himself. He seems to be determined to win a World Cup as captain," said Srikkanth.
Rohit's return as captain and player is seen as a crucial development for the Indian team as they gear up for the global T20 event.
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Rohit Sharma returns as T20I captain as BCCI announce 16-member squad including Virat Kohli & Sanju Samson for Afghanistan series
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