With the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 beginning June 1, all teams including India have May 1 as the deadline to submit squads. The T20 WC begins on June 1 in the West Indies and USA. However, it is only a preliminary deadline and changes can be made without ICC’s approval by May 25. Beyond that, teams will need ICC’s technical committee’s approval. Hence, it will give the BCCI Selection Committee the whole of IPL 2024 to evaluate performances and take a call on the selection. IPL 2024 will also be an audition for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The selection committee will name a 15-member squad apart from three travelling reserves. Rohit Sharma is expected to lead. But there is no clarity if at all he will be the India captain or Hardik Pandya.
“We have a fair idea about the squad. But of course, IPL will be the one. We have to pick the squad based on form and not on individual performances in the past. Everyone is available for selection until then. It is up to the selectors whether Rohit and Virat will be in the squad. They are available for selection in T20Is,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Important Dates:
- May 1: Preliminary squad submission deadline
- May 25: Final Squad submission deadline
Rohit-Virat dilemma
While both are superstars and most successful batters in T20Is, Ajit Agarkar-led selectors will be under pressure. They can’t overlook Rohit and Kohli while including them can derail the balance of the team as well.
If Rohit Sharma has been in poor T20I form, Virat Kohli’s sluggish approach in the middle overs has not gone unnoticed. Furthermore, including both will mean dropping either Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal — two young players who have hit tons of runs in IPL 2023.
Hence, the selection will be left to the IPL 2024 form. And if Rohit returns, he will return as the captain. As for Virat Kohli, he continues to be the global face of cricket. And by overlooking him in a new market, things could go awry for ICC’s adventurous USA plan. After all, it is Kohli who is the face of cricket in the ICC’s plans for both the USA T20 World Cup and the LA Olympics 2028.
Former India captain and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has backed Rohit Sharma to lead India in the T20 World Cup 2024. He also wants Virat Kohli to be in the team.
“Of course, Rohit should captain the team in the T20I World Cup 2024. Virat Kohli also should be there. Virat Kohli is an outstanding player, nothing will happen if they return after 14 months,” Ganguly told reporters in Kolkata during a said during a promotional event.
What happens to Hardik Pandya?
With Rohit Sharma in exile, Hardik became the de facto leader. He continues to feature as the India captain in Star Sports’ T20 World Cup 2024 promo. But what happens to Hardik when he plays with Rohit in T20 WC?
“Hardik was never the full-time captain. In fact, we never announced any full-time T20I captain. T20Is were not our focus in an ODI World Cup. And that’s why Hardik was the captain. He remains a crucial player for us. Whether selectors want to pick Hardik as the captain or Rohit is up to them,” the BCCI official said.
In any case, even if Rohit returns to lead after an impressive captaincy display in the ODI World Cup, Hardik will be his deputy.
