Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir want this Mumbai Indian player to lead team India in the upcoming World Cup T20, not Hardik Pandya.
The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA has cricket enthusiasts buzzing with excitement. Scheduled to kick off on June 4 and conclude on June 30 next year, India, the top-ranked T20I team, is considered a strong contender for the title. However, the unique challenges posed by West Indies’ pitches and stiff competition from teams like Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the host West Indies, who have secured two T20 World Cup titles in the past, make the journey challenging.
Although there are more than six months until the tournament, discussions about India’s captaincy have already begun. During a recent discussion on Cricbuzz, former India pacer Zaheer Khan, known for his pivotal role in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup victory under MS Dhoni’s leadership, expressed his opinion. Zaheer suggested that Rohit Sharma, the star batter from Mumbai Indians, should lead the Men in Blue in the T20 World Cup.
Rohit hasn’t played a T20I match for India since November 10, 2022, leading to uncertainty about his T20I future. However, Zaheer, who closely worked with Rohit at Mumbai Indians, believes the 36-year-old cricketer’s vast experience makes him an ideal choice.
Zaheer explained, “Because the T20 World Cup is just around the corner and time is limited, you have to go in with experience. You will have to give preference to the experienced guy, and I will not be surprised if they decide to go ahead with Rohit Sharma himself.”
Gautam Gambhir Also Prefers Rohit Sharma to Lead T20 World Cup
Gautam Gambhir has endorsed Rohit Sharma as his preferred captain for the 2024 T20 World Cup. In an interview with Sportskeeda, the former India opener expressed his desire to see Rohit lead the team, emphasizing his stellar performance in the current World Cup.
Gambhir stated, “Both [Kohli and Rohit] should be picked. More importantly, I want to see Rohit Sharma captain in the T20 World Cup. Yes, Hardik Pandya has led in T20Is, but I still want to see Rohit Sharma captain in the T20 World Cup.” He highlighted Rohit’s impressive batting in the ongoing World Cup and suggested that if Rohit is chosen, Virat Kohli would naturally follow. Gambhir stressed the importance of selecting Rohit not just as a batter but as the captain.
Despite speculations that Rohit may not play T20Is again, no official statement has been made by either the BCCI or the player. With Hardik currently sidelined, Suryakumar Yadav has taken over as the captain in the series against Australia. While KL Rahul, who has led Team India in all three formats, appears to be the frontrunner in Hardik’s absence, India is gearing up for three T20Is against South Africa and Afghanistan in the remaining 2023/24 season.
