Aoba Tanaka 
In a highly anticipated revelation, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian cricket team in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup scheduled to be held in the USA and West Indies in June. The announcement, made during an event in Rajkot on Thursday, also revealed Hardik Pandya as the vice-captain for the tournament.
Shah emphasized that Rohit Sharma’s captaincy extends across all formats, emphasizing the selectors’ unanimous decision. He addressed the rationale behind retaining Hardik Pandya as the vice-captain, stating, “Consider if Hardik gets injured, as he did in the previous World Cup. In such a scenario, who should we entrust with the leadership responsibility.”
Referring to Rohit Sharma’s remarkable century against Afghanistan in a challenging T20I match, Shah highlighted the captain’s proven abilities to turn the game around. The BCCI Secretary expressed confidence in Rohit Sharma’s leadership and boldly predicted India’s victory in the T20 World Cup in Barbados on June 29.
Shah’s announcement comes ahead of the third Test against England in Rajkot, where India seeks to take the lead in the closely contested series. The BCCI Secretary clarified the leadership decision, putting an end to speculations surrounding Hardik Pandya’s captaincy potential, especially after his appointment as the Mumbai Indians’ skipper.
In addition to the leadership announcement, Shah addressed concerns about players skipping domestic cricket for IPL preparation. He declared his intent to write to all players, urging their participation in red-ball cricket, emphasizing the importance of complying with the captain and coach’s instructions. Shah clarified that the directive applied to all players not at the National Cricket Academy, ensuring a balance between player fitness and active participation in domestic cricket.
Shah also touched upon the upcoming appointment of a new selector, following the recent advertisement by the board. While the team for the Test series is already selected, Shah assured that the selection process for the upcoming season, including the IPL, would be finalized soon.
