HITMAN Rohit will lead India in Champions Trophy

The cobwebs of uncertainty clinging to Rohit Sharma’s continuance in Indian cricket is over. On Saturday, when the BCCI selection committee meets in Mumbai to pick the team for the ICC Champions Trophy, Rohit will be in as skipper. After the high-octane drama in the last Test of the BGT Series in Sydney earlier this month, it appeared Rohit had almost decided to pack up. Or so we thought. First, he gave a TV interview in the middle of a Test and made it clear he was not leaving. On return to Mumbai, when the BCCI bosses meet to discuss what went wrong in Australia, Rohit made it clear he was around till the Champions Trophy and the BCCI can look for the next captain in coming months. “Main kidhar bhee naheen ja rahaa,” he had said. It has come true.

Over the last few days, Rohit Sharma has been at practice with the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team at the BKC complex. He has been knocking the whote ball hard. For those still speculating if he will play Ranji Trophy, no he will first play in the ODI series against England and will then lead the Men in Blue in Dubai. With a match against Pakistan also much awaited on February 23, whatever lack of form one saw from Rohit in Test cricket will be forgotten. He is an altogether different beast/batter when he plays white ball cricket. India have not played too many ODIs off late but the selection committee has imposed faith in the Mumbai Raja. Plenty of rumours and reports have appeared over differences between him and coach Gautam Gambhir.  Rohit is a superb professional and will lead from the front. At the same time, there should be no doubt over Virat Kohli as well when the selectors meet on Saturday. For those saying he has to turn out for Delhi in Ranji Trophy, don’t take it too seriously.

In white ball cricket, Rohit is undisputed king. He led the side to the ICC T20 World Cup triumph in the West Indies last year. Since he and Kohli retired from T20 internationals, they are still open to ODIs. For the record, Rohit had led India to the ICC ODI World Cup final in 2023 where India lost to Australia. All those who think Rohit versus Gambhir will be an issue, he is not the sort of guy who will be bitter. He has been an intense leader and backed his boys. That is the emphatic feedback from the players.

Indian cricket is churning. A lot of unverified news has found its way in public domain. Agreed, the failure in the BGT Series was a shocker but for everything to fall apart is shocking. If cricketers as senior as Rohit and Kohli are going to be taught ‘discipline’ like school boys, it is not a good sign. This is where the role played by Gautam Gambhir is incorrect. Fans are intrigued how Rohit will get along with Gambhir. If rumour mills are to be believed, Gambhir wanted to see the back of Rohit after the fourth Test. However, friends pressed Rohit to continue. Records speak for itself as to how important Rohit has been in white ball cricket. When outgoing BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said Rohit and Kohli would be there for the Champions Trophy, it was a request. This was just after the T20 World Cup win.

The BCCI selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar will be happy Rohit will lead. Too many changes can go wrong. Transition will happen, not now. Nobody should mix up India’s performances in red ball cricket and white ball cricket. Dubai is waiting eagerly for Team India to explode in the Champions Trophy.