Virat Kohli likely to step down as India skipper in limited-overs cricket after 2021 T20 WC; Rohit Sharma to take over

Virat Kohli likely to step down as India skipper in limited-overs cricket after 2021 T20 WC; Rohit Sharma to take over

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

The Indian cricket team is all set to undergo plenty of major changes after the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to a source quoted in The Times Of India, skipper Virat Kohli will step down from the captaincy role in white-ball cricket and his deputy Rohit Sharma might take over.

A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source stated that Kohli is having detailed discussions with Sharma and other members of the team management on this over the last few months. He reckoned that the 32-year-old wants to get back to concentrating on his batting. 

“Virat himself will make the announcement. He is of the view that he needs to concentrate on his batting and go back to becoming what he’s always been – the best batsman in the world,” sources stated.

“Captaincy in 3 formats affecting Virat’s batting, We realize spin-masters will be at work, giving their own twists to these developments. That’s the reason BCCI is planning this well in advance. In the end, Virat and Rohit are on the same page,” the sources added.

“If Rohit takes over as white-ball captain, Virat can continue leading India’s red-ball aspirations”

Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma – Most successful IPL captain

The sources further mentioned that even if Rohit takes the captaincy role in ODIs and T20Is, Virat will continue leading the side in the longer format.

“It will wrap up a historic Test cycle from an India perspective. Virat is also the first to realize that his overall responsibilities as captain across formats are taking a toll on his batting. He needs that space and freshness because he has a lot more to offer. If Rohit takes over as white-ball captain, Virat can continue leading India’s red-ball aspirations and work on his T20 and One-day batting. He’s just 32 and given his fitness, he will easily play top cricket for another five to six years at least,” say those in the know.

“If he had to ever take over as white-ball captain, that time is now. And it’s going to be a win-win for the Indian team because the two senior cricketers are so well in tune with each other,” said a source.

Virat Kohli has been India’s one of the most successful captains thus far across all three formats. The Delhi cricketer has led the national side in 95 ODIs and 45 T20Is, winning 65 50-over and 29 20-over matches out of them as a skipper.

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