Rohit Sharma Demanded Captaincy Of Both T20Is And ODIs; Didn’t Want To Lead In T20Is Alone- Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday (December 8) announced that Rohit Sharma will be leading the Indian team in the ODIs and T20Is going forward, effectively ending Virat Kohli’s tenure as white-ball captain after five years.

Kohli, who had stepped down as T20I captain after the T20 World Cup 2021, wanted to keep leading in ODIs. Meanwhile, in a major development, reports suggest that Rohit Sharma didn’t just want to lead in T20Is alone and put forth a condition in front of the selectors that if he is made captain, he wanted captaincy of both ODI and T20I teams.

Virat Kohli, who boasts of 65 wins in 95 ODIs giving him an impressive win percentage of 70.43m was optimistic of leading India in ODIs and Tests, keeping in mind the 2023 World Cup to be played in India. However, the BCCI selectors and president Sourav Ganguly felt that there cannot be two captains in two white-ball formats and hence sacked Virat Kohli as ODI captain also.

Rohit Sharma Kept The Condition Of Taking Over The Charge Both Odis And T20Is

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had revealed that the selectors wanted one skipper for ODIs and T20Is. Hence, the charge was given to Rohit.

Ganguly was quoted by ESPNCricinfo: “We had requested Virat not to step down as T20 captain but he didn’t want to continue as captain. So, the selectors felt that they cannot have two white-ball captains in two white-ball formats. That’s too much of leadership.”

However Cricbuzz Plus reported that it was Rohit, who kept the condition of taking over the charge of both ODIs and T20Is. The Mumbaikar was having a batting session in Mumbai along with Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Ajinkya Rahane around the time the selectors met to appoint him as the ODI skipper.

He had earlier intimated that ODI captaincy should be given to him if the selectors want him to lead the T20I side. Rohit is the only captain in the Indian Premier League to win five titles with Mumbai Indians (MI). For India, Rohit has won the 2018 Asia Cup and 2018 Nidahas tri-series T20 Trophy and many think he is the right person to end India’s ICC trophy drought.

Also Read: Since India Did Not Win Any World Cup Titles Under Virat Kohli, BCCI May Have Thought Of Trying Out New Captain – Venkatapathy Raju