Dubai: India skipper Virat Kohli who led the team for the one last time on Monday hinted at Rohit Sharma, who is Kohli’s deputy in the T20 World Cup as his successor for the T20I captaincy, saying that the star opener has been ‘overlooking things for a while now’ saying that he is much ready in the wings to take up the job.
“I’ve been immensely proud of how the team has played. Now I think it’s time for the next lot to stake this team forward. Obviously Rohit is here and he’s overlooking things for a while now,” Kohli said during the toss ahead of India’s final T20 World Cup match against Namibia here.
Monday’s game also marks the end of Ravi Shastri’s tenure as head coach along with some other support staff members, including bowling coach Bharat Arun. While Rahul Dravid has been announced the next coach replacing the Ravi Shastri, whose contract comes to an end, the BCCI haven’t yet announced the next T20I skipper.
“It’s been an honour for me, I was given the opportunity and I tried to do my best. But it’s also time to create some space and move forward.” Kohli added.
Rohit Sharma is the likeliest candidate to replace Virat Kohli as not only he is the current vice-captain but also has led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles the most in the tournament’s history. Speculations is doing rounds that Sharma tipped to take the mantle of captain of the India T20I side starting from the home series against New Zealand at home, beginning November 19.
Ravi Shastri also confirmed the same. Hailing Rohit’s leadership skills Shastri called him ‘very capable guy.’ Adding that Sharma having already won multiple IPL trophies and served as vice-captain for long, he’s all but ready to take over the job after the T20 World Cup.
“I think in Rohit, you have got a very capable guy. He has won so many IPLs and has been the vice-captain of this side. He`s ready in the wings to take that job. As far as the T20 team is concerned, we will always have got a strong team. We might have not won this World Cup. But continuing forward, you will always have a very strong team because the IPL throws a lot of young players into the mix. Rahul will have his own ideas on how to take this team forward and I still see it as a very good team,” said Shastri in the post-match press conference after India won by nine wickets against Namibia on Monday.
