'Why Does He Need To Be Convinced If...': Ex-India Star On Rohit Sharma T20I's Captaincy Future

30.11.2023 - 12:15 sports.ndtv.com

Amid uncertainty over the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in T20Is, former India batter Aakash Chopra has made an interesting claim.

Rohit and Virat have not played a single T20I since the conclusion of the T20 World Cup last year. And after India lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup final on November 19, reports have emerged that Rohit's future in the shortest format remains an uncertainty.

However, Chopra feels that Rohit has "never expressed" his will to not be available in T20Is. "I don't think Rohit has ever expressed his desire not to lead India in any format.

Happy to be corrected...if I have missed anything. So, why does he need to be convinced for something that he's never said NO to??," Chopra posted on X (formerly Twitter).

cricket India Cricket Team on Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Aakash Chopra Australia South Africa India

Ever since Mumbai Indians announced the decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as the franchise's skipper, the captaincy change has been one of the most talked-about topics on social media. While some fans are upset to see the captaincy responsibilities being taken away from Rohit, some have welcomed the 'timely change' in command. Some nostalgic fans have also been sharing old videos featuring Rohit and Hardik on social media, highlighting the times when they played for MI together and those occasions when the latter joined Gujarat Titans.

'Not A Finished Product': Ex-India Star's Bold Take On Hardik Pandya's Captaincy

Cricket commentator and former India player Aakash Chopra feels that Hardik Pandya as a captain is not a "finished product". Hardik made a return to the five-time champions in a trade deal between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. While many expected Hardik to play under Rohit's captaincy, MI's decision to hand the captaincy to the 30-year-old all-rounder earlier this week caught many by surprise. While hosting JioCinema's daily sports show '#AAKASHVANI', Aakash gave his take on Pandya's appointment and said, "It's my understanding and not some inside news. When Hardik (Pandya) decided to move from Gujarat, captaincy may have been a part of the deal. This decision would have been definitely communicated to Rohit Sharma as well."

"Surprised That Mumbai Indians Has Moved From Rohit Sharma": Ex-India Star's Explosive Take

Former Indian cricket team opener Wasim Jaffer was surprised by Mumbai Indians' decision to appoint Hardik Pandya as the skipper ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Hardik's appointment meant that Rohit Sharma's ten-year tenure as MI captain came to an end. During the tenure, Rohit guided them to five IPL titles - the joint most by any captain. In a recent interaction, Jaffer said that it was surprising how quickly MI moved on from Rohit following Hardik's return to the franchise and also wondered whether Rohit was informed about this move beforehand.

Rohit Sharma Reveals His "Best Partnership"; It's Not With An Indian Cricketer. Suryakumar Yadav Reacts

India skipper Rohit Sharma has currently taken a break from cricket after the disappointing loss in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia. He then went on to miss the five-match T20I series against Australia, followed by a white-ball series against South Africa. However, on a positive note, the 36-year-old batter and his wife Ritika Sajdeh are celebrating their eighth wedding anniversary on Wednesday. To celebrate their special day, Rohit shared some adorable images with Ritika, along with a sweet caption.

Rohit Sharma vs Hardik Pandya: Explaining T20 World Cup Captaincy Dilemma

The future of India's veteran batter Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are up in the air, with there being little clarity over the duo continuing to play T20I cricket for India. Though reports have surfaced, suggesting Rohit will lead India in the T20 World Cup next year. But, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to give clarity on the matter, suggesting no decision has been taken yet. As for Hardik Pandya, who has been leading the Indian team in T20Is since the conclusion of the 2022 T20 World Cup, fitness remains the biggest roadblock in his pursuit of full-time captaincy in the shortest format. Hardik got injured in the ODI World Cup and isn't expected to regain full fitness anytime soon.

Does Rohit Sharma Pass Yo-Yo Fitness Test? India Coach's Honest Response

Fitness wasn't always a selection criteria in the Indian team but with the evolution of cricket, a lot has changed. With Virat Kohli arguably being the finest example, Indian players have worked hard towards their first. Even the introduction of the Yo-Yo test has forced the players to work on their fitness in order to get into the Indian team. However, there also remains chatter on players like Rohit Sharma who often get people engaged in fitness debates. But, as far as India's strength and conditioning coach Ankit Kaliyar is concerned, Rohit is as fit as Kohli.