When Virat Kohli stepped down as India’s Test captain in December 2022, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced a leadership vacuum. While Kohli’s departure was a significant moment, given his statistical success and cultural impact as a Test leader, finding his successor wasn’t straightforward. Surprisingly, the BCCI’s preferred candidate, Rohit Sharma, initially expressed reluctance to take on the prestigious role.
Sourav Ganguly, who was the BCCI president at the time, revealed the details of how he ultimately convinced Rohit to accept the Test captaincy. Rohit, already leading the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and captaining India in One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, was understandably concerned about the immense workload that would come with leading the Test side as well.
Ganguly recalled, “We always wanted Virat to be captain, but he did not want to continue. And that’s what it was. And then obviously Rohit came in, he was captaining Mumbai Indians. He was captaining 50-over T20. We needed a test captain because Virat Kohli was Test captain by then and he finished in South Africa. I always believed that Rohit was a very good captain. So obviously the request from the board, I went to him that you know you should captain in test matches. He was reluctant because of workload.”
Kohli’s decision to step down from Test leadership came after India’s defeat in South Africa, following his earlier relinquishment of T20I captaincy and removal from ODI captaincy due to the BCCI’s reported desire for unified white-ball leadership. His Test retirement left the team without a clear successor, including Rohit, who had not been an established heir.
Sourav Ganguly further elaborated on his crucial conversation with Rohit, emphasizing the historical significance of leading India in Test cricket. He explained, “But then I remember having a conversation with him that, you don’t want to finish your career without captaining Indian test matches. So that struck a chord with him, and then he took a couple of days and then he agreed. He’s a very adjustable person, very friendly person, if you have conversations with him, he’ll agree and accept and do things. And why wouldn’t anybody want to be in this test game?” This powerful appeal to Rohit’s legacy ultimately swayed his decision.
Rohit Sharma went on to captain India in 24 Tests, securing 12 victories and facing 9 defeats. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that the BCCI was considering a younger leader, and Rohit subsequently announced his Test retirement. The mantle of Test skipper has now passed to Shubman Gill, while Virat Kohli has also retired from the format.
