T20 World Cup 2024: Is BCCI Planning To Make Hardik Pandya T20 Captain?

In a surprising move, Mumbai Indians have chosen Hardik Pandya as the new captain for the IPL 2024 season, ending Rohit Sharma’s 10-year captaincy. This Shift arises question that who will be captain for T20 world cup 2024?

Hardik had recently returned to Mumbai Indians after leading Gujarat Titans to victory in 2022 and being the runner-up in the following year. Despite the expectation of a smooth leadership transition, the announcement came just four days before the Dubai auction.

This shift sparked speculation about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. However, reports indicate that Rohit remains the preferred choice for the captaincy in the T20 World Cup. The cricketing world is abuzz with discussions about these changes, and fans are eager to see how the new captain, Hardik Pandya, will lead Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL season.

Is BCCI Planning To Make Pandya Captain for T20 World Cup 2024?

Hardik Pandya has been informally leading the Indian T20I team for over a year, as Rohit Sharma took a break from T20Is since November 2022. Initially expected to return for the South Africa series after the ODI World Cup, Rohit extended his break, leading to speculation about his future in T20Is.

Hardik emerged as the likely captain for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. Mumbai Indians (MI) recently announced Hardik as their new captain, signaling a shift towards the future and moving on from the 10-year captaincy of Rohit Sharma, who is set to turn 37 in April.

While MI’s decision focuses on the IPL, it raises questions about whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will make a similar choice for the T20 World Cup. The cricket community eagerly awaits updates on this evolving situation.

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What Report Says About Hardik As A Captain For T20 World Cup?

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, a BCCI official responded with a ‘no’ when asked if Hardik Pandya would captain the Indian team in the T20 World Cup. The official clarified that the decision about the captaincy is up to the franchise (Mumbai Indians) and doesn’t impact Team India. The official emphasized that Rohit Sharma remains the captain across all formats.

🚨 REPORTS 🚨

Mumbai Indians’ decision to replace Rohit Sharma as captain will not have any impact on Team India. He is still the first choice for captaincy at the T20 World Cup 2024. #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/kYIaAOu724
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) December 17, 2023

A source mentioned that during a recent meeting in Delhi with Team India head coach Rahul Dravid, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and Rohit Sharma (joining virtually), Rohit expressed his desire to be confirmed as the captain for the T20 World Cup in advance. This sheds light on the ongoing discussions and Rohit’s preference for leading the team in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

How BCCI Responded About The Captaincy In T20 World Cup 2024?

Even though there was a verbal agreement on this matter, an official announcement hasn’t been made yet, and the T20 World Cup 2024 is still six months away. When asked by Dainik Jagran about the captaincy in a scenario where both Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma are in the squad, the official leaned towards Rohit Sharma.

The official explained that Rohit, being a seasoned opener, is considered a natural leader, and as of now, the BCCI has not removed him from the captaincy role.

How Was Rohit Journey As A Captain In Mumbai Indians?

When Mumbai Indians announced Hardik Pandya as the new captain, Rohit Sharma was attending the annual function of Dhirubhai Ambani School. He is currently in India and will soon leave for South Africa to participate in the two-match Test series starting from December 26.

Rohit Sharma served as the captain of Mumbai Indians for 10 seasons, taking over the role in the middle of the 2013 season when Ricky Ponting stepped down. Under Rohit’s leadership, Mumbai Indians achieved significant success, winning their first IPL title in 2013 and also securing victories in the Champions League T20 (now defunct). Additionally, Mumbai Indians claimed IPL trophies in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.

What Did Rohit Sharma Said To All This Matter?

Rohit Sharma has not made an official statement following Mumbai Indians’ decision. However, as per an Indian Express report on Saturday, it was disclosed that the 36-year-old was informed about the decision before the ODI World Cup in October.

This information was conveyed through a series of meetings after Hardik Pandya set a condition that he would only come back to Mumbai Indians if he was assured the captaincy role. So, there were discussions and a mutual understanding before the decision was made, with communication occurring prior to Rohit heading into the ODI World Cup.