'Certainly, I have not decided to give up the format'- Rohit Sharma asserts amidst comparison with Hardik Pandya

Rohit Sharma (Image source: Twitter)

The fight for leadership for Team India is currently on. With Hardik Pandya claiming the T20I captaincy, Rohit Sharma must be feeling the pressure to perform well in other formats in order to save his leadership position.

The right-hand batter is back to leading the team in 3 match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on January 10^th. While many think of Pandya as the permanent T20I captain from now on, Rohit has asserted that Pandya took the charge only because Rohit needed rest.

“It was made clear in the past that it’s a World Cup year for us, 50-over World Cup, and for some of the guys, it’s not possible to play all formats. If you look at the schedule, the matches are back-to-back. So we decided on looking at some players’ workload. We give them enough break time and manage them and I definitely fall in that, “Rohit Sharma said ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka.

The Indian Test skipper has suggested that the management is looking to manage the workload as the Indian T20 League is approaching prior to the ODI World Cup. The 35-year-old however is certain that he would play the shortest format.

“We have only 6 T20Is, 3 are over. We have 3 more against New Zealand. So we will manage to look after those till the Indian T20 League and we will see what happens after the Indian T20 League. But certainly, I have not decided to give up the format,” he added.

Only future can tell us- Sharma

Journalists, however, were not shying away from asking the question about the next permanent Team India captain to which Rohit replied in a diplomatic manner.

“It’s very difficult to say a lot now (about captaincy). Everybody’s focus is on the 2023 World Cup and the World Test Championship. Only the future can tell us who will be the captain in the future. You have to wait for it,” Rohit added.