Zaheer Khan Picks India's Skipper For T20 World Cup 2024. It's Not Hardik Pandya

29.11.2023 - 04:45 sports.ndtv.com

India's Cricket World Cup 2023 heartbreak hasn't yet fully healed, with the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli yet to make a public appearance since the team's defeat in the final to Australia.

However, the Indian cricket team has moved on and is already looking to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2024, with Suryakumar Yadav leading a young brigade against Australia in a 5-match assignment.

When it comes to next year's T20 World Cup, talks around India's captaincy choice are already buzzing, with Hardik Pandya emerging as the leading candidate.

However, former India pacer Zaheer Khan feels it would be Rohit Sharma that the team management goes ahead with as far as captaincy choice for the marquee event is concerned. "Well, because the T20 World Cup is just around the corner and there is not a lot of time, you have to go in with experience.

cricket Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team 2024 cup Rohit Sharma Hardik Pandya Australia India

The future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has been the topic of several debates both among experts and fans in the recent past. Following India's defeat against Australia in the Cricket World Cup 2023 final, reports surfaced that the veteran duo are looking to move away from the shortest format of the sport and the conversation got more intense when they were not included in the white-ball series against South Africa. However, legendary South African cricketer AB De Villiers believes that it is all about the hunger in both the players and he backed Rohit and Virat to play for India in the T20 World Cup 2024.

In Rohit Sharma's 'Message' A Big T20 World Cup 2024 Hint

Will Rohit Sharma captain India in T20 World Cup 2024? Ever since the conclusion of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, there continues to remain a sense of suspense over Rohit Sharma's continuity in white-ball cricket, especially in T20Is. In a video message on Wednesday, Rohit spoke about the World Cup final loss heartbreak for the first time since the tournament ended, while also revealing how difficult it has been for him to overcome the feeling of losing that match to Australia. While Rohit didn't categorically speak about his future plans, he did leave a big hint.

Jitesh Sharma Over Ishan Kishan In India's T20 World Cup 2024 Squad, Irfan Pathan Explains Why

The hunt for India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad is intensifying with every passing match. For the wicket-keeper's role, the likes of KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Jitesh Sharma have emerged as the biggest candidates. While Rahul looks like a certainty in the team, the second spot could be decided between Jitesh and Ishan. Though Ishan have the experience, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels Jitesh should edge the Mumbai Indians batter as he is a lower-order batter.

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.

India vs Australia: Five Players Who Boosted Their T20 World Cup 2024 Prospects

Though the recently-concluded T20I series between India and Australia lacked star power, with several seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Steve Smith giving it a miss, the bilateral series proved to be of great value for several fringe players, serving as an audition for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in West Indies and USA next year.

On Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's T20 World Cup 2024 Selection, Sanjay Manjrekar's Perfect Solution

Two of the finest batters of this generation, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stare at a an undecisive future in white-ball cricket. The two haven't featured in a T20 international since the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2022 and aren't part of India's plans for the South Africa assignment too. As debate rages on in the cricketing fraternity over their potential T20 return, opinions are divided. Sanjay Manjrekar, former India cricketer, feels a call should be taken on the duo's participation in T20 World Cup 2024 closer to the tournament.