As India sets its sights on winning the T20 World Cup next year, former opener Gautam Gambhir has a distinctive perspective on leadership. While Hardik Pandya has been at the helm in the T20 format over the past year, Gambhir voices his preference for Rohit Sharma to lead the team in the upcoming tournament, emphasizing the need for both Rohit and Virat Kohli to feature prominently.
Following India's loss in the ODI World Cup, attention now shifts to the T20 World Cup slated for June 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. Speculations abound regarding senior players distancing themselves from the T20 format, but Gautam Gambhir's opinion stands apart. He advocates for the inclusion of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the squad, with Rohit taking the captaincy reins.
In the T20 World Cup 2022, Rohit Sharma captained Team India, securing a spot in the semi-finals but falling to England. Post that, Rohit has not played a single T20 match, with the team being led in his absence by Hardik Pandya and others. Meanwhile, Rohit guided India to the final of the ODI World Cup, facing defeat against Australia.
Gambhir's viewpoint is clear – despite Hardik Pandya leading the T20 side for the past year, he envisions Rohit Sharma leading the team in the T20 World Cup. In an interview, Gambhir stated, "While Hardik Pandya has captained in T20, I still want to see Rohit Sharma as the captain in the T20 World Cup."
According to Gambhir, the recent performances of Rohit and Kohli in the T20 World Cup showcase their value to the team. If Rohit Sharma is chosen, Gambhir believes Virat Kohli will naturally be included in the team. Gambhir emphasizes that Rohit should be selected not just as a batsman but also as the captain, underlining his strategic prowess and leadership qualities.
Gambhir further asserts that if Rohit decides to play in the T20 World Cup, he should be appointed as the captain, marking a departure from merely being a key batsman. With the T20 series against Australia set to begin on Thursday, November 23, Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the captain in Rohit Sharma's absence, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will serve as the vice-captain for the first three matches. Shreyas Iyer will take over as vice-captain for the last two matches, making his return to the squad.
Gautam Gambhir's call for Rohit Sharma's captaincy in the T20 World Cup adds an intriguing layer to the discussions around India's leadership choices. As the team navigates the upcoming T20 series against Australia, all eyes remain on the potential captaincy decisions leading up to the much-anticipated T20 World Cup in 2024.
