Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that Rohit Sharma, popularly known as Hitman, will be the captain of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in America for the first time. Hardik Pandya, the explosive all-rounder, will be his deputy, while Rahul Dravid, the legendary batsman, will be the coach of the team.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah expressed his confidence in Rohit Sharma’s leadership and hoped that he would guide India to their second T20 World Cup title, after the inaugural edition in 2007. In an interview with a media channel, Shah said, “Rohit Sharma is one of the best batsmen and captains in the world. He has proven his credentials in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket. He has a calm and composed temperament, which is essential for the shortest format of the game. I am sure that under his captaincy, Team India will perform well and win the T20 World Cup in America.”
Shah also praised the performance of the Indian team in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they reached the final but lost to Australia by a narrow margin. He said, “Even though we lost the final match of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Team India has succeeded in winning the hearts of the fans. India won 10 consecutive matches, which is a remarkable feat. They showed great skill, spirit, and determination throughout the tournament. I congratulate them for their efforts and achievements.”
The T20 World Cup 2024 will be a historic event, as it will be the first time that the tournament will be hosted by America, a non-traditional cricketing nation. The tournament will feature 16 teams, including four associate members, who will compete in four groups. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eight stage, followed by the semi-finals and the final. The tournament is expected to attract a huge audience and generate a lot of revenue for the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the host country.
Rahul Dravid, who retired from international cricket in 2012, has been appointed as the coach of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. He has been the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) since 2019, where he has mentored and trained many young and emerging players. He has also coached the India A and India Under-19 teams, leading them to several victories.
