Rohit Sharma best man to take over from Virat Kohli as T20I captain: Sunil Gavaskar

T20 World Cup 2021: Speaking to India Today, batting great Sunil Gavaskar said Rohit Sharma is the ideal man to take over from Virat Kohli as T20I captain. He also said that India should look to avoid making wholesale changes to the T20I team despite the early exit from the showpiece event.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rohit Sharma is the frontrunner to take over from Virat Kohli as T20I captain
• Gavaskar urged the selectors not to make wholesale changes to T20I team
• India failed to reach the semi-final of T20 World Cup in the UAE

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar said India don't have to think long-term when it comes to appointing a new T20I captain, highlighting that the next T20 World Cup will be played in Australia in 2022. Gavaskar said India should go for Rohit Sharma, stressing the Mumbai Indians skipper is the best man to replace Virat Kohli as the captain of the team in the shortest format of the game.

Virat Kohli's tenure as India's T20I captain came to an end on Monday as India suffered an early exit from T20 World Cup 2021. India hammered Namibia by 9 wickets in their final Super 12 match but were not able to qualify for the semi-final, thereby failing to reach the knockout stages of an ICC tournament for the first time since 2012.

Kohli had announced before the start of T20 World Cup 2021 that he would step down as the skipper of the T20I team. He cited workload concerns but hinted that he will continue to lead the side in ODIs and Test cricket.

Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar said Rohit's record of having led India in the past and winning as many as 5 Indian Premier League titles makes him the ideal candidate to lead the team at least for the next year.

"Long term is in case the next World Cup is maybe 2 years away or 3 years away. Next World Cup is just 10-12 months away. You don't have to really look long term now," Gavaskar said.

"Right now, you have to look for the best man who can take India to an ICC trophy. And that is Rohit Sharma with his record for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, he is an obvious choice. I think he should be given the captaincy and maybe after next year's World Cup in Australia, maybe have a look at another T20 captain. But right, now it's only Rohit Sharma," he added.

India should avoid major changes to T20I team: Gavaskar

Meanwhile, Gavaskar said India should not make wholesale changes to their T20I team even as they failed to make the semi-final of T20 World Cup 2011. Gavaskar added that there is room for adding fresh blood in the T20I team and the selection committee should keep in mind the conditions in Australia before going for picking fresh faces for the shortest format of the game.

India will take on New Zealand in a 3-match T20I series from November 17 at home. Rahul Dravid will begin his tenure as head coach after having been appointed by the BCCI as Ravi Shastri's successor.

"I think there has to be some sort of a change but not majorly. You certainly need fresh legs and fresh thinking. That will happen. Right now, I don't think we should be looking at making wholesale changes. Don't take the fact that we didn't do well in the World Cup lightly but too many changes won't help anybody," Gavaskar said.

"India are going to play at least 20 T20Is before the next World Cup. So that's a great opportunity to give some players who you think can be there in Australia.

"Right now, everything that you do as a selection committee must be with a thought to Australia. What kind of pitches you will get in Australia, the size of the boundaries in Australia, all these things must be kept in mind when you pick the team," he added.