BCCI Secretary Jay Shah Maintains Ambiguity on Rohit Sharma’s T20 World Cup Participation
Questions persist over Rohit Sharma’s future in T20I cricket and his potential inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Despite being India’s all-format captain, the 36-year-old has been absent from the T20I format for over a year, raising doubts about his participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah addressed the issue on Saturday, keeping the speculations alive.
Rohit’s Prolonged Absence Raises Concerns
Rohit Sharma has not featured in India’s T20I side since the T20 World Cup semifinal loss against England in November 2022. Initially believed to prioritize ODI cricket, with the 50-over World Cup scheduled for October, Rohit indicated at the beginning of the year that he has not ruled out T20Is. Following the ODI World Cup, expectations were high for Rohit’s return against South Africa or Australia, but he was not named in the squads for either ODIs or T20Is.
Amid the growing speculation, Jay Shah was questioned about BCCI’s stance on Rohit’s T20I comeback and his potential role in the T20 World Cup. Speaking at the Women’s Premier League auction in Mumbai, Shah responded, “What is the need to have clarity right now? It (T20 World Cup) is starting in June, we have the IPL before that and the series against Afghanistan.”
Virtual Meeting Adds to the Mystery
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, Rohit Sharma participated in a virtual meeting from London, where he is spending time with his family. The meeting, attended by Shah, vice president Rajeev Shukla, treasurer Ashish Shelar, head coach Rahul Dravid, and the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar, reportedly discussed Rohit’s role in India’s T20 World Cup plans. The unanimous agreement suggested a positive outlook for Rohit’s inclusion.
The report further mentioned that BCCI had desired Rohit’s participation in the South Africa T20I series, but he opted for a break from the entire white-ball leg of the tour. Rohit is set to return as a captain in the upcoming two-match Test series scheduled to commence on December 26.
The uncertainties surrounding Rohit Sharma’s T20I future continue, adding intrigue to India’s squad selection for the Afghanistan T20I series and the impending T20 World Cup.
