Rohit Sharma Should Captain India Till 2022 T20 WC: Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar backed Rohit Sharma to lead India until the 2022 T20 World Cup.

On Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma was designated as the captain for the New Zealand T20Is with fellow opener KL Rahul named his deputy.

Virat Kohli, who stepped down from India’s T20I captaincy after their last T20 World Cup match against Namibia, has been given rest for the T20I series against the Black Caps.

Rohit Sharma has won five IPl titles with Mumbai Indians and given that he was the vice-captain in India’s white-ball affairs, it was very clear that he could take the baton from Kohli.

Although Rohit is yet to be confirmed as a full-time captain in the shortest format for India, Gavaskar believes that the Mumbai batter is the right person to help India win the next T20 World Cup.

“Long term is in case the next World Cup is maybe two or three years away. The next World Cup (T20) is just 10-12 months away. You don’t really have to look long term then,” Gavaskar said on Sports Today.

“But right now, you have to look at the best man who can guide India to an ICC trophy. And that man is Rohit Sharma with his record for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, he is the obvious choice. So, I think, he should be given the captaincy and maybe after the next year’s World Cup is done in Australia, maybe have a look at another T20 captain, but right now it’s only Rohit,” he added.

India missed the qualification mark for the semi-final after two successive losses to Pakistan and New Zealand in their first two games of Group 2.

India start their T20I series against New Zealand on November 17 in Jaipur.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma To Captain Team India As BCCI Announces India’s T20I Squad vs New Zealand