IND vs SL 2022-23, 1st ODI: 'Have not decided to give up on T20 format' - Rohit Sharma
IND vs SL 2022-23: Rohit Sharma will lead India again in the opening Guwahati ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Meanwhile, having lost the T20I captaincy, he has refused to give up on the format and will take the call after IPL 2023.
FollowIndia's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma on Monday said he has no plans to "give up on Twenty20 Internationals [T20Is]" amid solid indications that the transition has already started under Hardik Pandya.
"We have only six T20Is. Three are over. So we'll manage to look after those boys till IPL. Then we'll see what happens after the IPL [Indian Premier League]. But certainly, I've not decided to give up the format," Rohit said, trying to dispel doubts on whether he will continue playing the shortest format.
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According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants a young team built under all-rounder Hardik Pandya's leadership for the ICC T20 World Cup 20224 in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) in 2024. Rohit, another former skipper Virat Kohli and recently sacked vice-captain KL Rahul are currently outside the shortest format.
"At the moment, I think it was made clear in the past that it's a 50-over World Cup year for us. And, for some of the guys, it's impossible to play all formats," Rohit replied to a PTI query on Tuesday's eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Rohit said that a new-look team had played the T20Is against Lanka due to the workload management of some of the senior players.
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"If you look at the schedule, there were back-to-back matches, so we decided on just looking at some players' workload that we wanted to make sure that they get enough break time and manage them. I fall in that [category] as well," Rohit said. Rohit, Kohli and KL Rahul faced a lot of criticism for employing age-old techniques during Powerplay, which hurt India during big games in the 2022 Asia Cup and the T20WC.
It is understood that Rohit will see how his upcoming season with record five-time former champion Mumbai Indians (MI) pans out, and he may decide his T20I future after that. Ditto for Kohli, while the only player who has been plain and dropped from T20Is is Rahul. It is understood that Rahul is no longer considered a potential national team leader.
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Rohit was also asked who could be the India captaincy prospect in ODIs and Tests after him. "Abhi toh kehna mushkil hai. Sabka focus abhi ODI World Cup pe hai. [It is difficult to say right now as everyone is focussed on ODI World Cup]. And also, we have World Test Championship matches coming up. You have to wait and watch," he concluded.
(With inputs from PTI)
