Jay Shah reveals Hardik Pandya's role, announces Rahul Dravid as India coach for T20 World Cup 2024

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has officially confirmed that Rohit Sharma will be leading the India National Cricket Team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and Rahul Dravid will be the head coach of the team.

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid duo last year, India played the finals of the three major tournaments in Asia Cup 2023, ICC World Test Championship 2021-23, and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

However, they were only able to succeed in lifting one trophy, which was the Asia Cup, and suffered disappointing defeats in the finals of the other two competitions. Notably, Pat Cummins-led Australia National Cricket Team emerged as a better team on the given day and broke the hearts of billions of Indians by defeating Rohit Sharma & Co. in the finals of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and ICC World Test Championship Final.

Under Rohit’s captaincy, India dominated in the World Cup 2023 at home and absolutely hammered the opposition teams in all the games. They entered the summit clash as undefeated and favorites to clinch the title to end India’s ICC trophy drought. But it wasn’t meant to be as the World Cup dream remained unfulfilled.

Rohit Sharma will once more get an opportunity to help India win the ICC trophy when he leads his troops in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in June in the USA and West Indies.

Rahul Dravid head coach, Rohit Sharma captain and Hardik Pandya vice-captain at T20 World Cup 2024, confirms Jay Shah

Speaking on Wednesday in Rajkot, Jay Shah announced Rohit as the skipper for the T20 World Cup 2024. Notably, there were rumors about Hardik Pandya taking charge of the team in the competition, but now those have turned out to be false.

Jay Shah also promised fans that the India National Cricket Team would lift the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in the West Indies.

“In 2023 (final) at Ahmedabad, even though we did not win the World Cup after 10 straight wins, we won hearts. I want to promise you that in 2024 (T20 World Cup) in Barbados (venue for the final), under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, ham Bharat ka jhanda gaadenge (we will hoist the Indian flag),” Shah said during his speech while renaming the SCA Stadium as the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Wednesday.

VIDEO | Here’s what Asian Cricket Council president and BCCI secretary Jay Shah (@JayShah) said while addressing an event in Rajkot.

“In 2023 (final) at Ahmedabad, even though we did not win the World Cup after 10 straight wins, we won hearts. I want to promise you that in 2024… pic.twitter.com/GcEJjSdiLs

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2024

Shah further said that Rahul Dravid, who got the extension after the World Cup 2023, will remain the head coach of the side while star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will serve as Rohit’s deputy in T20 World Cup 2024.

“Rahul Dravid to be India coach during T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya will be Rohit Sharma’s deputy,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said as quoted by News18.

Rahul Dravid to be India coach during T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya will be Rohit Sharma’s deputy: BCCI secretary Jay Shah

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) February 14, 2024

Rohit Sharma along with a few more seniors didn’t participate in T20I cricket for India since the loss in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final and Hardik Pandya was given the reins of the team. However, Rohit recently returned as captain of the team in Afghanistan T20Is and slammed a magnificent ton in the third game of the series. Also, India comfortably whitewashed the opposition team.