"Under His Captaincy, We'll Hoist Indian Flag" - BCCI Secretary Jay Shah Reveals Rohit Sharma Will Captain India At T20 World Cup 2024

Rajkot, February 14: BCCI secretary Jay Shah has revealed that Rohit Sharma will lead Team India at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean and the USA in June later this year.

Rohit's participation at the show-piece tournament was in doubt after he had not appeared in the shortest format for India since the 2022 T20 World Cup, where his team lost to eventual champions England in the final.

Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have led the side in the shortest format during Rohit's absence, but the heartbreaking loss in the final of the 2023 World Cup to Australia ignited the murmurs of senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit returning for the T20 showpiece in June.

The senior players Kohli and Rohit returned to the T20 fold earlier this year in the three-match home series against Afghanistan. Rohit also returned as captain of the T20 side after Hardik and Suryakumar were unavailable for selection.

But, there were doubts if Rohit would still lead the national team at the T20 World Cup 2024 after he was removed as skipper of Indian Premier League (IPL) side Mumbai Indians with Hardik being named as his replacement.

However, in a recent event in Rajkot, BCCI secretary Shah has revealed that the Indian flag will be hoisted at the T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies under the captaincy of Rohit, hinting that the former Mumbai Indians skipper will lead the national team in the show-piece tournament.

"In 2023 (final) at Ahmedabad, even though we did not win the World Cup after 10 straight wins, we won hearts. I want to promise you that in 2024 (T20 World Cup) in Barbados (venue for the final), under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, ham Bharat ka jhanda gaadenge (we will hoist the Indian flag)," Shah said at the end of his speech.

Shah made this speech at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Khanderi, which was renamed after veteran cricket administrator Niranjan Shah, as the chief guest.

The event in Rajkot was graced by several dignitaries including former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Anil Kumble as well as IPL chairman Arun Dhumal.

The event also featured current chief selector Ajit Agarkar, incumbent head coach Rahul Dravid, Rohit, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and a few members of the Indian team support staff.

(With PTI inputs)