Rohit Sharma walks back in WTC final (Twitter)
Team India, under Rohit Sharma, sustained a 209-run drubbing to Australia in the WTC 2023 final. While the team will now embark on an all-format trip to West Indies in July, certain circulating reports are suggesting that the Test segment of the tour might be Sharma’s final stint as red-ball skipper.
The dashing opener took over Test captaincy after India’s most successful Test skipper, Virat Kohli, stepped down from the role in early 2022. Thereafter, the Mumbai-based cricketer led India to Test series wins over Sri Lanka and Australia at home, before the latter of the two handed him a huge defeat in the ultimate Test, a WTC final, in England this month.
BCCI to take call on Rohit Sharma’s Test captaincy future
Rohit Sharma will likely lead his Indian drawcards in the upcoming two-match Test series in West Indies, unless he himself decides to take a break from the tour. However, as per recent reports, the BCCI selection committee will be under pressure if the cricketer fails to deliver a notable Test knock in the coming matches.
The ICC recently unveiled a schedule of the next WTC cycle, which will commence with the Ashes this week. The Caribbean tour will mark India’s first set of fixtures, which will be followed by a tour to South Africa later this year.
A senior BCCI official has revealed that the selection committee will be taking a call on Sharma’s Test captaincy future. The official also added that the selectors will have enough time to think over the decision, considering a hefty gap between India’s tour to West Indies and South Africa.
“As of now, I believe that Shiv Sunder Das and his colleagues will have to take a call after the two Tests and look at his batting form. After West Indies, we have no Tests till December-end when the team travels to South Africa. So, there is enough time for selectors to deliberate and take a decision. By then the fifth selector (new chairman) will also join the panel and a decision can be taken.”
 "Aakash Saini")
