Reports: BCCI offers complete freedom to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to decide their T20I future

After India's disappointing performance in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, the BCCI selectors have preferred to select a young brigade so far in the shortest formats. Multiple reports claimed that the officials have decided to go beyond Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and that the duo won’t be featuring in T20I cricket anymore. However, with the T20 World Cup 2024, around the corner, the reports have been dismissed as BCCI has given complete freedom to Rohit and Virat to decide on their T20I career going forward.

As per reports, the board will not put any pressure on these legendary cricketers and let them decide their future. The report also claims that if both Rohit and Virat are fit and are willing to play in the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024, then the duo will be a part of it and BCCI will back them throughout.

However, the players are yet to make a decision. After failing to clinch the ODI World Cup, they have decided to take a break from the five-match T20I series against Australia but are expected to make a return for the tour against South Africa. A lot more will come to light then as BCCI are likely to announce VVS Laxman as the new head coach before that as India’s road to T20 World Cup 2024 will gain momentum.

Notably, Rohit Sharma won the T20 World Cup in 2007 when Kohli was not part of the set-up. Hence, 2024 can very well be his last attempt to win the competition and hence, it is expected for him to make a return. Rohit meanwhile needs to plan his white-ball career. BCCI has given him time to decide and a decision is expected to be made before the South Africa series. In case, he prefers to stay out of the shortest format, Hardik Pandya will most likely be announced as the new full-time skipper of the T20I side.