Jay Shah makes a BIG Announcement! Rohit Sharma to continue to lead India in WTC Final and Champions Trophy

Digital Desk: In a significant move for Indian cricket, Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will continue as captain for India in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship (WTC) final scheduled for 2025. This decision comes hot on the heels of Rohit Sharma's stellar leadership in guiding India to a historic victory in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados.

Jay Shah expressed his satisfaction with backing Rohit Sharma after India's heartbreaking loss in the ODI World Cup final last November. Shah's foresight paid off handsomely with Rohit Sharma leading India to triumph in the T20 World Cup. Looking ahead, Shah exuded confidence that under Rohit's captaincy, India is poised for further success in the upcoming ICC events.

"After winning hearts on November 23 with 10 consecutive victories, we set our eyes on winning the Cup. In Rajkot, I predicted that on June 29, we would not only win hearts but also lift the flag in Barbados, and our captain did just that," Shah remarked proudly.

Shah also hinted at India's strategic approach with split captaincy, where Rohit Sharma will lead the Test and ODI sides, while Hardik Pandya is likely to take over T20I duties following Rohit's retirement from the format last year.

The ICC Champions Trophy, making a comeback after an eight-year hiatus, is set to be hosted in Pakistan next year. The tentative schedule includes a potential marquee clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Karachi, pending final approval from the BCCI. The board may advocate for adaptations akin to the hybrid model seen during the Asia Cup.

Shah dedicated India's recent T20 World Cup victory to outgoing coach Rahul Dravid and three esteemed players—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja—who retired from the format post the tournament. These stalwarts are expected to make their return for India's upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka in August, followed by a series against England in February, leading up to the Champions Trophy.

The BCCI remains optimistic and proactive in preparations for these upcoming events, aiming to build on recent successes under Rohit Sharma's versatile and dynamic leadership across all formats of the game.