India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, is set to lead the team in the upcoming West Indies series, putting an end to rumors of his potential rest from the Test matches. Recent reports suggested that Rohit might be given a break from the longer format, with someone else taking charge temporarily. However, a senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dismissed these speculations.
Addressing the media, the official stated, “Rohit is fit and available for selection. He will have a good break, so there is no workload management concern either. He will lead in the West Indies series.” This announcement comes as a relief for fans who were curious about Rohit’s involvement in the Test matches.
While Rohit Sharma has faced criticism for his recent form, particularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, his statistics paint a different picture. In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), he has maintained an average of 49.27 over the past 12 months, including a century and four fifties in 13 innings. His strike rate stands at an impressive 111.52. In Test cricket, despite playing only five matches, he holds an average of 37.5.
Considering his recent performances, it would be premature to judge Rohit solely based on his IPL and WTC Final outings. The official emphasized, “Yes, he hasn’t scored many runs in the IPL and the WTC Final, but he has performed decently in the last few months. He recorded a century in Nagpur against Australia and has been diligent in maintaining his fitness. Criticizing him solely on form would be unfair.”
With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 approaching, the West Indies series could serve as a crucial platform for Rohit Sharma to regain his form and solidify his spot in the Indian squad. Fans eagerly await his contribution and are hopeful that he will deliver his trademark explosive batting display in the upcoming matches.
