BCCI to approach Rohit Sharma for leading India in T20Is during South Africa tour, claims report

With Hardik Pandya likely to miss the white-ball leg of the upcoming tour of South Africa, the BCCI is reportedly set to approach Rohit Sharma to lead India in the three T20Is in addition to the ODIs and Tests. Rohit has not led India in the shortest format since the semi-final defeat against England in last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. All-rounder Pandya has led the Men in Blue in the shortest format since then even if he has not officially been announced as the T20I captain by the board. According to a report on PTI, BCCI secretary Jay Shah is set to meet with chairman of the selection panel Ajit Agarkar in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss India’s squads for the tour as well as the roadmap to next year’s T20 World Cup that will be jointly-hosted by West Indies and USA. Pandya had suffered an ankle injury during India’s World Cup campaign that not only has ruled him out of the ongoing T20I series against Australia, but has also made his trip to South Africa highly unlikely. In his absence, vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav has been leading the Indian team against Australia and will continue in that role in South Africa should Rohit turn down BCCI’s request. Rohit has expressed reluctance at the idea of playing the shortest format. However, the way he performed in the World Cup, both as a batter and a leader, will have made him the ideal leader for the 20-over format as well in the board’s eyes. And should he agree to lead India in the South Africa T20Is, Rohit will likely lead India in the T20 World Cup as well. “Yes, there remains a question what happens when Hardik comes back but in BCCI, they feel that if Rohit agrees to lead in T20Is, he will lead in the T20 World Cup. In case Rohit doesn’t agree then Surya continues as captain for T20Is in South Africa,” a BCCI source was quoted as telling PTI. The BCCI however, is also keen to manage the workloads of some of the senior players and might give Rohit a breather in the ODIs before the Tests get underway, given that the 50-over format will now take a backseat after the World Cup. “The BCCI has always given preference to that particular white ball format which has a global tournament in next six months. ODIs post World Cup is third priority and five ODIs is a lot. “Hence if Rohit leads in T20Is, he might take rest to freshen up for Tests. It will be decided by sports science team,” the source added. Bumrah, Iyer and Rahul to make Test return Meanwhile, India are expected to have a full-strength squad for the two-Test series starting 26 December, with the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul likely returning to whites after long injury leaves. [caption id=“attachment_10851281” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Jasprit Bumrah’s last Test appearance was against England in the summer of 2022. (Photo Source: BCCI/Twitter)[/caption] Both Iyer and Rahul last played the red-ball format in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia earlier this year while Bumrah’s last Test appearance was in the delayed fifth Test against England in Birmingham last year, where he had filled in as captain in placed of the injured Rohit. Rahul will also likely keep wickets in the Test series as taking up that role frees up an extra batter’s slot in the middle order along with Shreyas Iyer, which could give senior batter Ajinkya Rahane room to fit in. The doors, however, appear firmly shut to Cheteshwar Pujara, who had been dropped for the tour of West Indies following his indifferent performances in the World Test Championship final. Bumrah’s return, additionally, further strengthens the Indian pace attack that also comprises Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj as the frontline quicks and Shardul Thakur as the seam-bowling all-rounder.