It was hard to push Rohit Sharma to become captain after Virat Kohli quit: Ganguly

Team India stormed into the T20 World Cup 2024 final with a commanding 68-run victory over England in Guyana. Thereafter, the Rohit Sharma-led squad went on to win the tournament unbeaten.

This win was further enhanced with decisive wins against Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and England, marking India’s third ICC final under Rohit’s captaincy, having narrowly lost the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship finals to Australia.

Ganguly Reveals Rohit’s Initial Reluctance

Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who oversaw Rohit’s appointment as captain after Virat Kohli’s exit, revealed the star batter was initially hesitant to take the role.

“Rohit Sharma wasn't keen (on taking Team India’s captaincy). It had gone to a stage where I told him 'you'll have to say yes otherwise I'll make the announcement,'” Ganguly said in an interaction with the press.

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The former BCCI president also highlighted Rohit’s resilience, noting how life “came full circle” for him. Six months after being replaced as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain in the IPL, Rohit was on the verge of ending India’s 11-year ICC trophy drought.

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“He has played two World Cup finals, where he has gone into the final unbeaten. That speaks of his captaincy and leadership quality, and I'm not surprised,” Ganguly added while having full trust in Sharma’s potential to win the World Cup, something which went on to be triumphantly true.

From MI Snub to World Cup Redemption

Rohit’s removal as MI skipper sparked fan outrage, with the team finishing last in IPL 2024 under Hardik Pandya. Ganguly, however, lauded Rohit’s comeback. Ganguly also emphasised Rohit’s five IPL titles as captain, calling it a tougher feat than winning a World Cup, owing to the length of the tournament.

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Final Call: Play Fearlessly

Sourav Ganguly’s faith that Rohit Sharma would be a fearless Indian captain and his decision to hand him the mantle after Virat Kohli paid off. The former MI skipper not only won the 2024 T20 World Cup but also the 2025 Champions Trophy, unbeaten, going on to become one of the most successful Team India captains.