Ashish Nehra, the former Indian pacer, has raised concerns about the captaincy situation for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the squads for the South Africa tour, confirming that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would miss the white-ball leg, including both T20Is and ODIs.
This decision comes after the duo’s absence from T20 action and a taxing ODI World Cup that concluded with a final defeat to Australia. Suryakumar Yadav has been retained as the captain for T20Is, while KL Rahul will lead the side in ODIs. The exclusion of Rohit and Kohli from T20Is is noteworthy, considering the proximity of the T20 World Cup scheduled for June next year. There were speculations about Rohit, and possibly Kohli, making a return to the T20 format as captains.
However, the situation became more complex with Hardik Pandya, who temporarily took over the T20 captaincy, facing an injury during the World Cup, and there’s uncertainty about his return.
Despite Kohli and Rohit opting out of the white-ball leg, Nehra remains optimistic about their potential return to T20s. In an interview with JioCinema, Nehra expressed, “Somebody like Rohit Sharma. Somebody like Virat Kohli. If they are fit, we do not need to discuss their form.”
“Definitely, they will be there in the Caribbean and USA.” Nehra’s confidence in their comeback underscores the significance of their presence in the T20 World Cup. Nehra also touched upon the dilemma posed by Hardik Pandya’s absence. Having collaborated with Pandya during their time with Gujarat Titans in the IPL, Nehra acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “I don’t know about captaincy, there is still time.”
“It is a tricky one for the selectors also. Hardik Pandya also got injured, and it will be interesting to see when he comes back into the Indian side.” Nehra emphasized the potential challenge for any selection committee if Pandya makes a swift return during the IPL. In summary, Nehra’s insights shed light on the intricate captaincy scenario facing Team India, with uncertainties surrounding the return of key players and the added complexity of Hardik Pandya’s injury.
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