Following India's heart-wrenching loss in the Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia, most senior players are absent from competitive cricket. The ongoing T20I series between India and Australia features only three players who participated in the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma, deeply affected by the final's outcome in Ahmedabad, has maintained a low profile since the event. Spending quality time with family and friends, he recently shared an Instagram story during his vacation with his wife Ritika Sajdeh. Ritika posted a selfie with Rohit, captioning it as "My Boy."
During the ODI World Cup, Rohit Sharma led India's charge impressively, emerging as the tournament's second-highest run-scorer with 597 runs. His exceptional batting and captaincy were pivotal in India's journey to the finals. His aggressive starts in powerplays and record-breaking sixes surpassed Chris Gayle's previous single-edition record.
In the ongoing 5-match T20I series against Australia, India hold a 2-1 lead. Rohit Sharma, India's full-time captain, has been absent from leadership roles since India's defeat to England in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final. Suryakumar Yadav is currently leading the team in Hardik Pandya's absence due to an ankle injury.
As per a TOI report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to convince Rohit Sharma to captain Team India during the forthcoming T20I series against South Africa and the T20 World Cup in 2024. Given Hardik Pandya's absence from the South Africa tour, the cricketing body is keen on Rohit Sharma leading the team in the T20Is, which include three matches, alongside as many ODIs and two Tests.
Given the demanding ODI World Cup campaign, Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah, received rest for this series. India's upcoming away tour against South Africa comprises 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs, and 2 Test matches, offering a chance for the team to regroup.