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Sourav Ganguly Reveals Rohit Sharma Initially Declined India’s Test Captaincy Offer
Ganguly Breaks Silence on Rohit Sharma’s Test Captaincy Reluctance
In a major revelation that sheds light on the leadership transition within Indian cricket, former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has disclosed that Rohit Sharma initially declined the Test captaincy offer post-Virat Kohli’s exit in early 2022. Ganguly, speaking to PTI, opened up about the behind-the-scenes conversations and the challenges the Board faced in finding a successor to Kohli after his sudden resignation.
Kohli had announced his decision to step down from the Test captaincy following India’s 2-1 series defeat in South Africa, shortly after being removed as ODI captain and stepping down from T20I leadership. The abrupt change left the BCCI scrambling to fill a leadership void across all formats.
Why Rohit Said No at First: The Workload Factor
The Challenges of Leading Across Formats
According to Ganguly, the natural choice for Test captaincy was Rohit Sharma, who was already leading India in limited-overs cricket and had found significant success both domestically with Mumbai Indians and internationally. However, when approached, Rohit was initially hesitant to accept the red-ball captaincy role due to workload concerns.
“We needed a Test captain because Virat was no longer available. Rohit was the logical next choice, but he was reluctant at first due to workload issues,” Ganguly stated.
With Rohit already handling ODI and T20I duties, the idea of taking on the pressure of all three formats seemed daunting. Ganguly emphasized the mental and physical toll that full-time captaincy can take, especially in an era of packed cricket calendars.
Ganguly’s Persuasion: How Rohit Was Talked Into It
The former Indian skipper revealed that he personally reached out to Rohit Sharma to discuss the legacy and responsibility that comes with Test captaincy. According to Ganguly, he urged Rohit to reflect on the opportunity to lead India in the purest form of the game before retiring.
“I told him, ‘You don’t want to finish your career without captaining India in Test matches.’ That conversation really struck a chord with him,” said Ganguly.
After taking a couple of days to think it over, Rohit agreed to take up the mantle of India’s Test captain — a decision that would mark a new chapter in his cricketing career.
Rohit Sharma’s Test Captaincy: A Brief Yet Eventful Era
Rohit Sharma’s tenure as India’s Test captain, though not very long, had its share of ups and downs. He led India in 24 Test matches, winning 12, losing 9, and drawing 3. His leadership was praised for stability and calmness, but also came under scrutiny after losses both at home and overseas.
In December 2024, following India’s defeat to Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket and stepped down from captaincy duties. Reports suggest that the string of disappointing results and the mental toll of captaincy led to his decision to move on.
A Balanced Captain and a Leader of the Transition Phase
Despite a short run, Rohit Sharma’s Test captaincy was marked by a transitional period for Indian cricket. His leadership saw the emergence of new players, an evolving pace attack, and some memorable wins. Ganguly’s timely persuasion played a pivotal role in ensuring India didn’t lose a senior figure at a critical juncture.
Ganguly also highlighted Rohit’s personality, describing him as “adjustable and friendly,” capable of understanding and rising to the occasion when needed most.
India’s Test Captains List – From CK Nayudu to Rohit Sharma
