Rohit Sharma’s 18-year-long streak ended after the Ajit Agarkar-headed selection committee announced . The selection committee dropped a few selection bombshells.
Shubman Gill, who was the vice-captain of the T20I series against South Africa. which concluded on Friday (December 19), was dropped from the squad. Jitesh Sharma, who was playing ahead of Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper-batsman, was also dropped. Samson only got to play the fifth T20I in the absence of an injured Gill. Ishan Kishan made his return along with Rinku Singh.
With Gill dropped, the selection committee appointed . The bowling all-rounder captains Delhi Capitals in IPL.
Rohit Sharma’s historic streak ends
Rohit’s historic streak ended after the selectors announced the T20 WC squad. It was for the first time that Rohit wasn’t part of India’s T20 WC team. He has now retired from T20I cricket.
The former India captain quit the shortest format after leading the Men in Blue to a title win in the 2024 World Cup. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja also retired from T20Is after winning the title.
Rohit was a 20-year-old rookie when he was selected in the 2007 T20 WC team. He scored a crucial 30 off just 16 balls in the final against Pakistan.
Rohit was still an irregular member of the team when he played in the 2009, 2010 and 2012 T20 WCs. He only cemented his spot in the white-ball teams after being given the opening job in 2013. He assisted Virat Kohli in the 2021 T20 WC.
Rohit captained India in the 2022 WC, where they crashed out after suffering a 10-wicket defeat against England in the semi-final. Rohit-led India bounced back strongly in the 2024 T20 WC and defeated the same team in the semi-final. India ended their ICC title drought and won the 2024 T20 WC final.
Suryakumar Yadav, whose fielding heroics in the last over of the final seemingly sealed the title win for India, was appointed the captain after the WC. At the 2026 T20 WC, he will lead India in an ICC event for the first time.