Rohit Sharma should continue as captain till T20 World Cup 2024: Sourav Ganguly

After a soul-crushing defeat in the finals of the ODI World Cup 2023 last month, the Indian team has shifted its focus on next year's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. However, there is a lot of speculation going around regarding who would lead the 'Men in Blue' in the showpiece event.

Rohit Sharma's last appearance for India in the shortest format of the game was over a year ago when his men lost to England by 10 wickets in the semifinals of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Since then, Hardik Pandya has led the Indian team in the T20 format. The all-rounder is currently ruled out of action due to an ankle injury and Suryakumar Yadav is leading the side in the ongoing five-match T20I series versus Australia. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, however, has backed Rohit to lead the Indian team in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“Rohit Sharma should be the captain of India because he's done so well in the World Cup. He's a leader. So I expect, and I presume that he will continue as captain till the T20 World Cup," Ganguly told the reporters.

Rohit took over captaincy from Virat Kohli in T20Is after India failed to reach the knockout stage in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Incidentally, Sourav was the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during that time. He has mentioned in some of his interviews how he convinced Rohit to take up the prestigious role.

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli opt out of white-ball leg in South Africa

India are set to travel to the Rainbow Nation to play a multi-format series. On Thursday, November 30, BCCI announced the squads for the three formats. Rohit and Virat were missing from the T20I and ODI squads but they will join the team ahead of the two-match Test series. In a statement, the cricket governing body clarified that Rohit and Virat requested a break from the white-ball leg of the tour.

"Mr Rohit Sharma and Mr Virat Kohli had requested the Board for a break from the white-ball leg of the tour," BCCI mentioned in their statement.