‘Don’t Give Hardik Pandya India’s Captaincy, Let Rohit Sharma Lead in T20 World Cup 2024’ – Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir and legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram believe that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024, set to be held in West Indies and the USA.

Notably, both these players haven’t featured in India’s T20 squad since their semi-final exit in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. There were also reports suggesting that the management is keen on looking beyond Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in T20Is.

However, Gautam Gambhir contends that major tournaments like the T20 World Cup demand experienced players, and that requirement can only be met by having Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the team.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also believes that Rohit should continue leading the Men in Blue in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Here’s what Gautam Gambhir told Sportskeeda:

“Yes, absolutely. They (Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma) both need to be picked, they both should be picked, and they both should play the T20 World Cup. Most importantly, I want to see Rohit Sharma captain India in the tournament. Yes, Hardik Pandya did lead the team. Don’t pick Rohit Sharma only as a batter, he is a phenomenal leader and he has shown us that in the ODI World Cup 2023.”

Here are Wasim Akram’s views on the same:

“Virat and Rohit Sharma are going to be the key players for the Indian team in the T20 World Cup. You need big players in your team and can’t go into the World Cup with only young guys. Virat and Rohit have done well and they deserve to play.”

It will be interesting to see if the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee includes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, giving them a last chance to win the ICC trophy and end the decade-long ICC trophy drought.