Rohit Sharma cleared Preliminary Fitness Test, likely to be added to ODI squad for South Africa
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Rohit Sharma demanded to lead T20I and ODI sides both, reluctant to take T20I captaincy alone: Reports.

The rumours and reports in the high profile matter of team India’s recent split captaincy are not willing to settle down as the recent development from the official sources says that the new Indian limited-overs skipper, Rohit Sharma, was reluctant to take up the T20I leadership alone and demanded to allow him to take the reins of ODIs as well.

The Board of Contol for Cricket in India (BCCI) on December 8 officially announced the appointment of Rohit Sharma as the leader of India’s white-ball teams, axing Virat Kohli from his position in the ODI team.

The decision from the BCCI was not anticipated by any, nor by Virat Kohli himself. It was shocking news as Virat, during the time of T20I captaincy quit, announced that he wants to lead ODI and Test team while quitting the roles for the shortest format side.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said in a conversation, recently, that team India can’t afford to have two different captains for two very similar formats. The selectors were on the same page with the captaincy that there should be only one leader of the white ball format and one for test format, especially when the two major World Cups are lined ahead.

“We had requested Virat not to step down as T20 captain but he didn’t want to continue as captain. So, the selectors felt that they cannot have two white-ball captains in two white-ball formats. That’s too much of leadership,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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On the contrary to this, Cricbuzz published a report recently which says that it was Rohit Sharma who was not willing to take up the T20I leadership alone. He demanded the ODI leadership as well if BCCI wants him to lead the T20I side.

The report claim that Rohit was having a net session along with Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane when the selectors decided to meet and mull over the ODI captaincy of team India. Rohit wasn’t aware of the timing or the meeting scheduled by the BCCI, but he did assert earlier that he is not going to take up the T20I charge alone.

Rohit Sharma is the only captain to win five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles and his success stories forced the BCCI officials to ponder over him as the leader of the Indian team for the future. 

Not only IPL, but Rohit has also led India on various occasions in the absence of Virat Kohli, and has done exceedingly well to take the team to winning side. He won the 2018 Asia Cup and stated that if the opportunity arrives, he is ready to take the captaincy of team India.

Rohit Sharma will take the charge of the team from the upcoming South Africa tour which consists of three test matches and three ODI matches, starting December 26th.

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