‘If you want… then tell me now’ – Rohit Sharma’s stern message to Indian Cricket Board officials as 2024 T20 World Cup squad building in progress 

With the 2024 T20 World Cup just six months away, the Indian cricket board is in a rush to make sure they are on the right track. However, the management is still unclear as to who will captain the ship in the premier 20-over tournament. Team India under Rohit Sharma came close to ending their drought of winning a major international trophy in the recently concluded ODI World Cup, but Australia dashed all hopes in the final.

The future of senior players including Rohit in white ball cricket is now uncertain and hence the captaincy of the 2024 World Cup. The veteran opener has not played a single T20I since India’s semi-final exit in the 2022 World Cup held in Australia. All this time Hardik Pandya was taking charge of the shorter format but he was never appointed permanently. Now with the all-rounder frequently sustaining injuries, the management is confused as to who should hand over the captaincy baton.

Recently, the board officials had a meeting with Rohit, head coach Rahul Dravid and the selection committee to review India’s ODI World Cup campaign. They also discussed the roadmap of Indian cricket going ahead, along with announcing the squads for India’s all-format tour of South Africa, which begins on December 10 with a three-match T20I series.

What Rohit told board officials? 

Rohit was in London, enjoying quality time with his family, and joined the meeting in New Delhi via a Zoom call. The 36-year-old has reportedly asked the board’s top officials and selectors whether they want him to be a part of the upcoming T20 World Cup. According to an official who attended the meeting, Rohit wanted to know his future in 20-over cricket as soon as possible.

‘If you want to select me for the T20 World Cup then tell me now how to go about it,’ said Rohit in the meeting according to the official, as reported by Dainik Jagran.

Meanwhile, officials including coach Dravid and the selectors have reportedly voted Rohit to lead the team in the T20 World Cup. The selectors wanted Rohit to take charge of the T20I team right from the tour of South Africa, but the right-hander requested a break from the white-ball leg. Hence, Suryakumar Yadav has been picked to continue this role, while KL Rahul will lead the 50-over side.