The WTC final outcome has now cast doubt on Rohit’s Test captaincy status, with the BCCI’s selection committee due to make a decision this year.
Rohit Sharma, tipped to replicate his IPL captaincy on the international scene, travelled to London not just for his greatest job as a Test skipper, but also for his first ever responsibility on foreign territory. However, India was never able to match Australia’s level during the World Test Championship final, as the squad was completely overpowered at The Oval before succumbing to a 209-run defeat. It was India’s second consecutive loss in a WTC final, as well as their second unsuccessful attempt at an ICC trophy under Rohit following the 2022 T20 World Cup. The WTC final outcome has now cast doubt on Rohit’s Test captaincy status, with the BCCI’s selection committee due to make a decision this year.
According to a PTI report, Rohit is expected to captain the Indian team in their WTC 2023/25 cycle opener against the West Indies in a two-match series. However, if Rohit fails to live up to expectations as a batsman in the two matches, the selectors may make a major decision.
These allegations that Rohit might lose his position as captain are unfounded. According to a top BCCI official who spoke to PTI on the condition of anonymity, “Yes, there is a significant issue whether he would endure the entire two-year WTC cycle as he will be nearly 38 when the third edition ends in 2025. “At this time, I think Shiv Sunder Das and his teammates will need to make a decision based on his batting form and the results of the two Test matches.”
After the West Indies Test series, India will devote their attention to ODI World Cup preparation, and they won’t play the format again until the end of the event at home, which starts in October.
“After West Indies, we won’t play another Test until the team’s trip to South Africa at the end of December. Therefore, the selectors have adequate time to think things through and make a choice. By that time, the panel will also include the fifth selector (the new chairman), and a decision may be made, he noted.
According to the report, Rohit was hesitant to assume the Test captaincy after Virat Kohli stepped down from the position in January 2022. Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, who were unimpressed with KL Rahul’s captaincy in that one game in South Africa, persuaded Rohit to accept the position.
When KL Rahul failed to make an impression as captain in South Africa, the two senior guys at the time—former president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah—had to persuade him to accept the position, the source informed PTI.
In his seven Tests as India’s captain to far, Rohit has missed three matches: one in England due to COVID 19 and two in Bangladesh due to split webbing. He scored 390 runs in the seven games at an average of 35.45, with his 120-run performance against Australia in Nagpur serving as his lone notable performance.
