BCCI to opt for split captaincy after Rohit Sharma era ends, Kohli for Tests & Hardik Pandya for ODIs: Report

Team India has never opted for split captaincy before. All the instances of a leadership split have happened due to retirement from one format or the other.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has always chosen all-format captains. Rohit Sharma would have continued in that role if he hadn’t retired from T20Is. Therefore, after the 2024 T20 World Cup, the BCCI was ‘forced’ to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of the shortest format.

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BCCI going with split captaincy after Rohit Sharma

But the BCCI is looking to change things up. They are moving past their traditional ways. The richest cricket board in the world will opt for a split captaincy option after Rohit Sharma’s tenure as the India cricket team’s white-ball skipper ends. It seems like this is something that head coach Gautam Gambhir and selectors are on board with.

“India is going to have three captains for three formats very soon. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the captains fare,” a BCCI source told CricBlogger.

Virat Kohli to return as India’s Test captain

Gambhir wants Virat Kohli, his fellow Delhite and the most accomplished Test captain Team India has ever had, to take a U-turn and accept red-ball leadership. There are questions over Kohli’s place in the team due to his poor returns, but as far as his leadership goes, no one will point fingers.

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Hardik Pandya, the new ODI skipper

The head coach also wants Hardik Pandya to take control of the ODI team. Reports had previously suggested that Gambhir had wanted Hardik to be Team India’s vice-captain for the ICC Champions Trophy, but BCCI Chairman of Selectors and Rohit Sharma both refused. Naturally, if Gambhir wanted the all-rounder to be the second man in charge, then he’d want him to be the leader now.

As for Team India’s T20I captaincy, Suryakumar Yadav has earned the vote of confidence. Since taking over as the permanent captain, the 360-degree batter hasn’t lost a series and boasts an excellent record (13-2).

“This sort of transition phase could be very delicate for the system, but the board is ready for it,” the source added.

BCCI’s tough captaincy selection task

Both the Test and ODI captaincy might upset a few. Just a couple of days ago, another report suggested that the BCCI wants Rishabh Pant or Yashasvi Jaiswal to lead the Test team. Jasprit Bumrah has been Rohit Sharma’s deputy, but his fitness remains circumspect almost every time he plays.

Shubman Gill, who has been named Team India’s vice-captain in white-ball cricket, is being expected to be the man who takes over from Rohit Sharma, but this report suggests that won’t happen. His returns, especially in ODIs, are exceptional, and it wouldn’t have shocked anyone if he took over either.

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