Sunil Gavaskar wants Rohit Sharma to take over T20I captaincy from Virat Kohli

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar wants Rohit Sharma to succeed Virat Kohli as India T20I skipper. Kohli recently dropped a bombshell and revealed he will step down as India T20I skipper after the T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma has established himself as one of the smartest skippers in the shortest format of the game. He has led Mumbai Indians to five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles. He is also the vice-captain of the side and is an automatic choice to take over the reins of the T20I team.

“I think Rohit Sharma for the next two World Cups because they are back-to-back, one starting in a month and another exactly a year from now. So clearly, yes, you don’t want to change too many captains at this particular stage. Rohit Sharma would definitely be my choice for the captaincy of the Indian team for both these T20 World Cups. And then, I’m looking at KL Rahul as the vice-captain,” said Gavaskar on the Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected.”

Gavaskar further said he wants to see Rishabh Pant in the role of India’s T20I vice-captain. The cricketer-turned-expert was mighty impressed by the way Pant has led Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2021. The 72-year-old also suggested the name of KL Rahul as T20I deputy and said that one between Pant and Rahul can take over the vice-captain role when Rohit Sharma vacates the position.

“I would also keep Rishabh Pant in mind because he has been really impressive in the way he has led a star-studded Delhi Capitals team and the bowling changes that he has been making in the T20 format, using Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada in such a clever manner that actually shows a street-smart captain, and you always want a street-smart captain, who can read the situations and act immediately. So yes, Rahul and Pant are the two guys I would like as vice-captains,” he added.