Last week, Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), officially announced that Rohit Sharma would lead India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the West Indies and USA from June 1 to June 29.

It’s worth noting that after India’s exit from the T20 World Cup in 2022, Hardik Pandya assumed the captaincy for the T20 format. However, due to an ankle injury, Hardik was sidelined for a significant period, leading to Suryakumar Yadav taking over as captain for a couple of series.

Unfortunately, Suryakumar also sustained an injury during the South Africa tour, paving the way for Rohit to return as T20I captain during the recent home series against Afghanistan.

With less than four months until the T20 World Cup 2024, Shah put an end to speculation by confirming Rohit as the captain for the prestigious tournament.

Following this significant announcement, former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised Rohit Sharma’s outstanding leadership during the 2023 World Cup and expressed his support for the BCCI’s decision to appoint him as captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“Rohit Sharma is the right choice as India captain for the T20 World Cup. The way he led the Indian team and won 10 matches in the 50-over World Cup is still fresh in our memory. So, Rohit was the best choice,” Ganguly quoted as saying by mid-way.

Separately, Ganguly commended the young Indian batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan for their remarkable performance in the third Test against England in Rajkot.

During the match, Jaiswal displayed an outstanding performance by scoring a rapid double century (214* off 236 balls) in consecutive games, while debutant Sarfaraz contributed half-centuries (62 and 68*) in both innings, playing a crucial role in India’s commanding 434-run victory.

“Jaiswal is not only a good player, he’s capable of playing all in formats of the game. Sarfaraz has started well. He now has to score in foreign countries. Sarfaraz is a good example for budding cricketers, who must keep in mind that if they score consistently, they will get their chances,” Ganguly stated.

Discussing England’s aggressive Bazball approach, the former BCCI President remarked, “While Bazball is commendable, achieving success in Indian conditions poses challenges for England. I would be surprised if India were to lose the series. It’s important to note that India is currently without Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. This is a youthful team with many new faces, and despite that, England is facing difficulties.”

In the Rajkot Test, senior India off-spinner R Ashwin had to depart from the game abruptly due to a family medical emergency. He was absent from play on the third day but rejoined the team on Day 4.

Ganguly pointed out that Ashwin’s departure during a match reflects the confidence within the Indian team.

“India are so confident that they allowed R Ashwin to go back home in the middle of a Test. India look much more motivated in this series,” he opined.

India currently holds a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The fourth Test is scheduled to commence on February 23 in Ranchi.