Rohit Could Be White-ball Skipper After T20 WC

Virat Is Keen To Focus On Batting, Test Dominance

- K. Shriniwas Rao

IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE

Virat has talked to Rohit & the team mgmt & will concentrate on trying to be the world’s best batsman, sources said

TOI had first reported about Virat and Rohit’s growing camaraderie and their renewed friendship this March

Virat has won 38 Tests while captaining 65. He has skippered 95 ODIs, winning 65 & triumphed in 29 of 45 T20Is as captain

Rohit (34), one of the world’s best white-ball openers, is currently in the form of his life across all formats

The script for Team Indi-a’s white-ball story is set to undergo a huge change in the coming months. Current captain Virat Kohli is likely to step down as the white-ball (ODI & T20Is) captain after the T20 World Cup in October-November, paving the way for Rohit Sharma to take up the responsibility.

Kohli (32), who currently leads the team across all formats and is India’s most successful captain ever, is learned to have taken the call to share leadership responsibilities with Sharma (34), BCCI sources told TOI.

Kohli has had prolonged discussions with Sharma and the team management over the last few months, particularly after Team India’s triumph in Australia, one that coincided with Kohli becoming a father.

“Virat himself will make the announcement. He is of the view that he needs to concentrate on his batting and go back to becoming what he’s always been — the best batsman in the world,” sources said.