Team India is currently hosting England for a 5-match Test series. This is the last assignment for the Men in Blue ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. During the inauguration of the Niranjan Shah Stadium on February 14. The secretary of the Indian Cricket Board Jay Shah has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will be captaining the side in the major tournament. The opener has been a brilliant captain in the white-ball format.
The secretary speaking with the media after the inauguration of the changing the name of the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Shah said the chairman of selectors will be given a free hand to take a call on his own if a player refuses to follow instructions given by the team management. Previously it was reported that the Indian Cricket Board has that they will be making it mandatory for the cricketers to play the Ranji Trophy for at least three or four matches in case they wish to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Jay Shah believes that it is important to back the players when they need leave citing personal reasons, as was the case of Virat Kohli, who has made himself unavailable for the ongoing five-match Test series against England. The former India captain has been the star for India across formats over the years.
They have been informed on phone already and I’m going to write letters: Jay Shah
Shah told the media, “They have been informed on phone already and I’m going to write letters as well that if your chairman of selectors, your coach and your captain are asking for it then you will have to play red-ball cricket. Whatever advice we get from the NCA — say suppose somebody’s body is not able to handle both white-ball and red-ball cricket — so we do not want to impose anything in that regard.
“(It applies to) whoever is fit and young — we are not going to tolerate any other tantrums. If somebody is asking for a personal leave in 15 years then it is his right to ask for it. Virat is not that kind of a player that he would ask for a leave without any reason. We must back and trust our players.”
