Jay Shah on T20 World Cup, domestic cricket: What all did the BCCI secretary say

BCCI secretary Jay Shah made some big announcements on the sidelines of the event where Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium was renamed as Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Niranjan Shah was a veteran administrator and former first-class cricketer.

The ceremony was attended by India head coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma, allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, seamer Mohammed Siraj, spinner Axar Patel, members of the coaching staff and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.

During the ceremony, Cheteshwar Pujara, Jadeja and Jaydev Unadkat were also felicitated.

Former India captains Anil Kumble and Sunil Gavaskar also felicitated players from Saurashtra who have achieved success in recent years. Gavaskar credited Niranjan Shah for playing a key role in turning around the fortunes of Saurashtra, who are now two-time Ranji champions.

Niranjan Shah, who played 12 first-class games from 1965 to 1975, is also a former BCCI secretary.

The ceremony was equally important for some of the revelations made by Shah. A look at what the BCCI secretary said.

Rohit Sharma to captain at T20 World Cup

India skipper Rohit Sharma during a practice session ahead of the first Test against England in Hyderabad. PTI

After weeks of rumours and confusion over his long-term future in T20 format, Rohit Sharma will play the T20 World Cup and lead the side. Currently injured, but on the mend, Hardik Pandya will be his deputy.

“We may have lost the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. But we won hearts there by winning 10 matches in a row. I would like to say that I am confident that India will lift the 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy at Barbados,” said Shah.

“Rohit was captaining (in the past and in other formats) and he came back for the Afghanistan series after a year, which means we were going to let him continue forward,” said Shah.

Rohit featured in a T20I in January after 14 months out from the shortest format. He skippered the Indian team against Afghanistan. After not scoring in the first two matches, he scored an unbeaten 121 runs in the third match. As the match went into double Super Over, he scored 13 runs and 11 runs in the two innings to help India win.

Hardik Pandya to be vice-captain

Hardik Pandya has not played for India since an injury during the ODI World Cup. Reuters

Hardik Pandya had captained India during Rohit Sharma’s prolonged absence in T20I cricket. After Pandya injured himself during the ODI World Cup, options to lead the side became limited. Shah said Pandya continues to be in the leadership group.

“Hardik Pandya will definitely be the vice-captain. When Hardik was injured in the World Cup, who else can we give the captaincy? In the third T20I against Afghanistan, India were 22/4 and the way Rohit Sharma took the team to 212/4, we can’t question much about him, right? He has the ability, as I said, we won ten games in the ODI World Cup. We didn’t win the final, but it’s part and parcel of the game. Whoever plays better, wins,” said Shah.

Rahul Dravid to stay as coach

Rahul Dravid’s contract had expired after the 2023 ODI World Cup but has been extended until at least the 2024 T20 World Cup. Sportzpics

Rahul Dravid’s contract as India coach expired after the heartbreaking loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup final. But he was asked to continue and there hasn’t been a formal announcement on a renewal. Shah said Dravid will stay on until at least the T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA.

“After World Cup, Rahul Dravid went to South Africa and we couldn’t meet. There have been back-to-back series and I met him after a long time at the function today. I will speak to him for sure whenever we get the time but he will be the coach for the T20 World Cup,” said Shah.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to start on 1 June. The Indian team will start their campaign against Ireland on 5 June in New York. India have been paired with Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and the USA in Group A. The top two teams will make it through to the Super-Eights.

Virat Kohli’s availability

Virat Kohli has played two Tests and two T20Is since the ODI World Cup in India. Reuters

It wasn’t just Rohit Sharma who had made been out for a long time in the T20I format. Virat Kohli, too, had not played in the shortest format since the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022. He made his return against Afghanistan earlier in the year.

In the two matches that Kohli played, missing the first due to “personal reasons”, he scored 29 runs and a golden duck.

On questioned whether Kohli will be part of the T20 World Cup, Shah said, “we will talk about him (soon).”

Kohli has missed the entire Test series against England due to personal reasons. Shah refused to give further details on the actual reason or when he could be back. “If a person, for the first time in a 15-year career, asks for personal leave, it’s his right. Virat is not a player who will ask for leave for no reason. We need to trust our player and back him,” said Shah.

On players skipping Ranji Trophy

Ishan Kishan has been on a break since the T20I series against Australia at home. Reuters

Jay Shah also issued a strong warning to players skipping Ranji Trophy and stressed every fit centrally contracted and targeted player will have to play the domestic red-ball tournament. Recently Ishan Kishan had come under the radar for focusing on IPL and not playing the Ranji Trophy.

“They (players) 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,” said Shah.

Shah didn’t single out Kishan who requested for a break in South Africa and hasn’t played the Ranji Trophy. He said the directive applied to all those fit and available.

“He is a youngster… there is no need to mention his name. It applies to everyone. Everyone under the contract and the ones being targeted too. All players will have no choice but to play domestic cricket,” added Shah.

“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. This message is for all centrally contracted players and targeted players too.

“Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his own calls freely,” said Shah.