Sourav Ganguly Reveals His Expectations From New ODI Skipper Rohit Sharma

The BCCI announced Rohit Sharma as the skipper of the ODI team last week while announcing the Test squad for South Africa series. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is hopeful that Rohit will bring an end to India’s wait for winning their next ICC title. They won their last way back in 2013 under MS Dhoni. 

The Indian opener is set to begin his tenure as full-time ODI captain in January when India take on South Africa in a three-match away series. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, will remain the Test captain. Speaking to News, 18, Sourav Ganguly opened up on his expectations from Rohit Sharma as the new white-ball skipper of the Indian team. 

India Will Be A Contender In Next World Cups: Sourav Ganguly

“From 2022 to 2031, there will be a world championship every year and India will be a contender. I have always believed they can win. They had a semi-final loss in 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. In 2021, they lost in the group stage itself (T20 World Cup). But like any other Indian cricket fan, I believe India will win some of those tournaments. However, they can’t win everything,” Ganguly told News18. 

 India did not win any ICC title under Virat Kohli’s captaincy and Ganguly expects the team to reach greater heights under Rohit Sharma. 

“It’s very difficult to predict the future, but India is a great side. We have a very good coach and the team is in able hands with a new captain as well. So, we wish them all the best. Cricket is a team game. The players together with their captain and coach make it successful. And they have been successful in the last five years; I don’t see any reason why they can’t now. I wish them the best and hopefully, we can reach greater heights in the years to come,” said the BCCI President.

After Rohit’s appointment as the next ODI skipper, Sourav Ganguly said that the call was made by the selectors and not by him alone. 

“It’s a call that the BCCI and the selectors took together. Actually, the BCCI had requested Virat to not step down as the T20I skipper but obviously, he did not agree. And the selectors then did not feel it right to have two different captains for two white-ball formats,” Ganguly said as quoted by ANI.