'I can almost give it in writing': Ex-IND star resolves Team India's biggest puzzle before T20 WC

Following an enjoyable Test series against South Africa that concluded in a 1-1 tie, the Indian Cricket Team will now face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series beginning on January 11, 2024 at Mohali. The Indian squad will begin preparations for the T20I World Cup this year in the United States and the West Indies. Concerns in the country have been raised over whether top veterans such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharama will participate in the short format. However, when the roster was released on Sunday, the star duo had been selected to the squad for the T20I series, which would be headed by Rohit Sharma.

3 things you need to know

• Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been named in the T20I squad against Afghanistan
• Rohit Sharma led India to the ODI World Cup finals in 2023
• Virat Kohli was named the Player of the Tournament in ICC ODI World Cup 2023

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Aakash Chopra made a huge statement on Rohit Sharma ahead of the T20I World Cup

Even with Hardik Pandya in the team, Aakash Chopra believes that Rohit Sharma's return to captaincy for the T20I team against Afghanistan portends a possible leadership position for him in the next T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have rejoined the T20I team after a one-year hiatus. Hardik Pandya has been captaining the Indian side in the T20 format whenever he is available after the team's defeat in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final. Notably, Hardik replaced Rohit as captain of the Mumbai Indians team during the Indian Premier League. However, as Hardik is still recovering from an injury, Rohit will captain the team for the Afghanistan series, a choice that Aakash Chopra believes is important.

The former opener shared his opinions on his YouTube channel, highlighting the importance of Rohit Sharma's choice for team captain in the T20 World Cup and how it will affect the leadership dynamics of the group. Aakash Chopra said: 

"Rohit is now the captain and I feel he will be the captain in the World Cup as well. I feel this was a landmark selection, because if Rohit remains captain, he will play the World Cup. If he plays the World Cup, then he will be the captain," 

"Don't think that Hardik will become captain once he is back. I can almost give it in writing. I can't guarantee anything but the chances are very less that Rohit will be there and won't be the captain,"

Also Read: Internet explodes as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to T20I squad

Chopra continued by saying he didn't think Hardik Pandya would ever take back the leadership, even if he did rejoin the team. The former cricket player made it clear that, in his opinion, there is very little chance that Rohit Sharma will be in the team and not be the captain. This observation strengthens the belief that Rohit Sharma would continue to lead the squad even if Hardik Pandya decides to rejoin the Twenty20 Indian Premier League.