It's A Huge Honour: Rohit Sharma On Captaining Team India In All Three Formats

Ahead of the much-awaited Ind vs SL series, senior opener Rohit Sharma was named the Test captain of the national team. He now leads team India in all three formats

Team India Skipper Rohit Sharma, Pic Courtesy: AFP

New Delhi: Indian cricket team will lock horns with Sri Lanka in a home series. The two teams will square off in a T20 and Test series, with the first T20I series set to be played in Lucknow on Thursday. Ahead of the much-awaited series, senior opener Rohit Sharma was named the Test captain of the national team. He now leads team India in all three formats (Test, ODI & T20).

"It is a huge honour and it is always a great feeling to be captaining India in all three formats. I have a lot of challenges to look forward to, once the opportunity came through, I was glad and very happy to be captaining the team, we have a solid bunch of guys, so looking forward to leading them onto the park and seeing what we can create on the field," Rohit was quoted as saying by ANI, during a virtual press conference.

When asked about having Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain in the T20I series, Rohit said: "It does not matter too much whether it is a batter or bowler who is the vice-captain. It is the mind that matters and Bumrah has a great mind for the game. I have seen it closely. Honestly, yes, it is a good way for him to step into the leadership role now."

"He has taken his game to the next level, I am sure he wants to do it even further. I am sure this is going to add further to him getting confidence. It is nice to have him as vice-captain for this particular series, let's hope everything works out. I do understand what sort of cricketing brain he has, it is nice to have him in this role," he added.

With the likes of star players Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur set to skip the Ind vs SL T20I series, in-form players Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Chahar getting ruled out of India's T20I squad has increased the trouble of hosts. Sanju Samson has been included in India's T20I squad.

"Samson has got talent man, whenever you see him bat in the IPL, he has produced that innings where everyone goes over the moon watching that innings, he has got the skillset to succeed. That is the whole point about the sport, a lot of people have skill and talent, how you utilise it is the most critical part," said Rohit.

"It is now up to Sanju Samson how he wants to use that talent and maximise it because as team management, we see a lot of potential and a lot of talent in that individual. I hope we give him that confidence whenever he gets an opportunity. He is definitely into consideration and that is why he is part of the team. His backfoot play is superb. When you go to Australia, you need that shot-making ability, Samson has it in him. I just hope he utilises his potential," he added.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Avesh Khan. 

(With ANI Inputs)