The BCCI on Wednesday named Rohit Sharma as the full-time captain of India for ODIs and T20Is. The star opener will replace Virat Kohli as the ODI captain from the tour of South Africa.
Rohit Sharma replaced Virat Kohli to lead India in both ODIs and T20Is (AP Photo)
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- Rohit Sharma to take over as ODI captain from Virat Kohli from South Africa tour
- Virat Kohli had stepped down as T20I captain but said he would continue to lead in ODIs
- Rohit has also been appointed as the new Test vice-captain of India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced that Rohit Sharma will also take over as the captain of India’s ODI team, replacing Virat Kohli. Rohit was appointed full-time T20I captain after Kohli decided to step down after India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has also decided to appoint Rohit Sharma as the captain of the ODI and T20 International teams,” BCCI said in a statement after the announcement of India’s Test squad for the tour of South Africa.
Virat Kohli, who took over as India’s limited-overs captain from MS Dhoni in 2017, has led the team in 95 ODIs, winning 65 of them with a win percentage of 68. Kohli led India in the Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup but India lost in the final to Pakistan in the pre-tournament and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the 50-over showpiece event.
Rohit was made the vice-captain of the test team As the BCCI’s senior selection committee announced the 18-man squad for the 3-Test series starting from December 26 in South Africa. Rohit replaces Ajinkya Rahane who has been battling thin patches consistently in the longest format of the game.
When Virat Kohli said he would continue to lead India in ODIs
Notably, Virat Kohli had said that he would continue to lead India in ODIs and Tests after stepping down as T20I captain after the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
However, it seems that the selectors have decided to appoint Rohit as the ODI captain keeping in mind the 2023 World Cup to be played in India.
“Understanding the workload is a very important thing and considering my immense workload playing all 3 formats over the last 8-9 years and captaining regularly for the last 5-6 years, I feel I have the right to lead. One needs to position himself to be fully prepared for the Indian team in Test and ODI cricket,” Kohli had said ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“Of course, it took a long time to reach this decision. After much deliberation and discussion with people close to me, Ravi bhai and Rohit, who have been an essential part of the leadership group, I have decided to step down as T20 captain.
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