The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is poised for a substantial discussion with Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma regarding his future in white-ball formats. This meeting follows India’s recent loss in the ICC World Cup 2023 final to Australia on home soil.

The primary focus of the discussion is expected to revolve around gaining clarity on Rohit’s white-ball future and identifying and grooming a captain for the future. Rohit Sharma has purportedly conveyed to the selectors that he is willing to be excluded from consideration for T20Is, as the selectors are keen on investing in emerging talent. The key question now is how Rohit envisions his One Day International (ODI) career.

Assessing Rohit’s White-Ball Future and Nurturing New Leadership

Approaching 40 by the time of the next ODI World Cup in South Africa in 2027, Rohit’s future in ODIs is a significant consideration. The next major ODI tournament is the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, scheduled to be held in Pakistan. With only six ODIs scheduled for India in the next year, the BCCI source indicated that the selectors are hesitant to deviate from their strategy of investing in youth for T20Is, especially with the T20 World Cup looming in June.

India’s upcoming series against South Africa includes three ODIs, potentially providing an opportunity for Test players to acclimate to South African conditions. The BCCI and selectors plan to finalize their ODI strategy after the conclusion of the next IPL and T20 World Cup.

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A major challenge in this process is the grooming of a new captain, particularly for white-ball cricket, considering Hardik Pandya’s recurring injury issues. Rohit Sharma is set to captain in Tests until the 2025 World Test Championship cycle, but the selectors are exploring options for a new captain in ODIs.

The selection committee is evidently keen on moving forward and building a pool of players. This is exemplified by the omission of players like Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson from the upcoming T20Is against Australia, as the selectors aim to explore fresh talent and create a sustainable team structure.

During the event in October and November, a representative of the international cricket organization rejected rumors in Pakistani media that indicated games involving that team could be staged at a neutral venue.

The entire 2023 ODI World Cup will take place in India, according to a statement from the International Cricket Council (ICC). India is a prime candidate to host the tournament because of its long cricket history and top-notch infrastructure.  

 The 2023 ODI World Cup will pit the best cricketing nations in the world against one another, and it is expected to be an exciting and hotly contested event.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected media rumors that Pakistan will play its matches at a neutral venue, despite the fact that the official announcement of the dates and locations for this year’s ODI World Cup in India is still pending.

According to an ICC official, “as far as we are concerned, everything is full speed for a full event in India later this year.”

In order to host the Asia Cup in Pakistan yet hold the India games in neutral locations, BCCI has proposed a “mixed format” with the Pakistan board (PCB). According to reports in the Pakistani media, Pakistan’s World Cup matches will be transferred to a neutral venue using the same model. Bangladesh is considered a potential host country for these games.

Wasim Khan, GM of the ICC and former Chairman of the PCB, has even been mentioned in the media as claiming that Pakistan’s matches in the World Cup will take place at a neutral site. The ICC has demonstrated its distancing from any such remarks.

While talks may be on to keep the Asia Cup in Pakistan with only the final and games against India moving there, BCCI is unlikely to allow PCB to use that as leverage to negotiate the displacement of World Cup matches from India.

In England in 2019, the World Cup will follow the same rules as the previous iteration. Before the semifinalist teams were chosen, all 10 teams faced off against one another. That would mean that India would host nine Pakistan matches.

The BCCI has always claimed they cannot play cricket in Pakistan without government approval. It is well known that Pakistan will make the same case in the ICC forum.