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Following his successful leadership that led India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit Sharma has decided to retire from T20 international cricket. The 37-year-old, who first represented India in T20Is on September 19, 2007, during the 2007 T20 World Cup in Durban, concludes his T20I career with 4231 runs in 159 matches, setting a record for the highest runs scored by any player in this format. Additionally, he holds the world record for the most wins as captain in T20Is, with 50 victories out of 62 matches.
With Rohit stepping away from T20Is, India now faces the task of selecting a new captain, a decision that will be closely watched by cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Look at some players who can become India’s new T20I captain:
1. Hardik Pandya: As Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the T20 World Cup 2024, Hardik Pandya has already led India in 16 T20Is, winning 10 of them. His experience includes captaining Gujarat Titans in two IPL finals. With over 100 T20I appearances, the 30-year-old all-rounder is one of the senior players in the squad after the retirements of Rohit and Virat Kohli.
2. Suryakumar Yadav: Formerly ranked as the world’s No. 1 T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav has led India in seven T20Is to date. He took charge for the first time against Australia in November 2023 and has continued to lead in the absence of Rohit and Hardik. The 33-year-old is a regular member of India’s T20I setup and presents a strong case for consideration.
3. Jasprit Bumrah: Known for his prowess in all three formats, Jasprit Bumrah has led India in one Test and two T20Is. The 30-year-old fast bowler was awarded the Player of the Series in the T20 World Cup 2024 and brings a deep understanding of the game despite not having IPL captaincy experience. With 89 wickets in 70 T20Is, he stands as India’s third-highest wicket-taker in the format.
4. Rishabh Pant: Rishabh Pant has already captained India in five T20Is and has been leading Delhi Capitals in the IPL since 2021. At 27 years old, Pant is India’s primary wicketkeeper-batter in T20Is and offers significant leadership experience at a relatively young age, making him a promising long-term option.
5. Shubman Gill: Set to debut as captain during the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, 24-year-old Shubman Gill is a talented opening batter from Punjab. Though he missed out on the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, this series presents a pivotal opportunity for him to cement his place in the T20I team and showcase his leadership credentials.
Additionally, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer are also mentioned as potential candidates by the BCCI for their leadership qualities. Gaikwad notably led India to a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2023, while Iyer has reached the IPL final twice as captain and secured KKR’s third IPL title in 2024.
The decision rests with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who will weigh these candidates’ performances, experience, and leadership skills before appointing the new captain of India’s T20I team.
