Virat Kohli has been rested and Rohit Sharma has been selected Team India’s T20I captain for the New Zealand series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed Team India’s 15-man team for the forthcoming home series against New Zealand on Tuesday (November 9). With the Men in Blue’s elimination from the T20 World Cup 2021, Virat Kohli’s term as India’s T20I captain came to an end, and Rohit Sharma was selected as the new T20I captain for the series. Kohli has been rested for the first Test against New Zealand, which will take place from November 25 to 29 at Green Park in Kanpur.
Rohit Sharma, who led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL victories, was the front-runner to succeed Kohli as India’s T20I captain.
The forthcoming series against New Zealand, in which the two teams will play three T20 internationals and two Tests, will be Rohit’s maiden assignment as India’s full-time T20I captain.
Kohli intimated that Sharma might succeed him as India’s T20I skipper after India’s win over Namibia.
“That isn’t likely to change anytime soon. If I can’t do it, I’m not going to play any more. Even when I wasn’t captain, I was always interested in seeing how the game progressed. I’m not going to sit here doing nothing “Kohli stated during the presentation ceremony following India’s comfortable nine-wicket victory in their final T20 World Cup match.
Kohli said he felt relieved after winning his last match and that now was the ideal moment to step down as captain to better manage his workload.
“As I have stated, it has been an honour, but things must be kept in perspective. It was the ideal time for me to take control of my burden. Every time we take the field, it’s been six-seven years of tough cricket, and it takes a lot out of you. It’s been a lot of fun with a terrific group of men, and we’ve done a fantastic job as a team “Kohli remarked.
Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad.
