Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has picked Rohit Sharma to succeed Virat Kohli as the India captain in the shortest format of the game for the next two T20 World Cup. Rohit has been Kohli’s white-ball deputy since 2017 and is likely to take over the charge in the shortest format as Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as T20 captain after the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE.

Gavaskar stated on the Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’ that Rohit would be his preference to head Team India in the T20 World Cup in 2022. “Definitely, Rohit Sharma for the next World Cup. With World Cups back-to-back, you don’t want too many changes in the captaincy,” Gavaskar said.

While the national selectors are yet to name Virat’s successor in T20I cricket, it is quite anticipated that Rohit Sharma, the five-time IPL champion, will be given the job.

Gavaskar chose Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul and Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant as the vice-captains of the T20I team post the upcoming World Cup.

“I am looking at KL Rahul as the vice-captain of the Indian team. I would also keep Rishabh Pant in mind,” he said.

The former Indian opener lauded Pant’s leadership of a star-studded Capitals squad and the way he has rotated his pacers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.

According to Gavaskar, Pant is a great contender for the future captain’s deputy, since he is a street-smart cricketer, a characteristic he has displayed to the fullest while captaining Delhi this season.

“The way he led a star-studded Delhi Team, the bowling changes he is making in T20 format particularly using Nortje and Rabada in such a clever manner that actually shows a street smart captain.”

“And you always want a street smart captain who can read situations and act immediately. Yes, Rahul and Pant are the two guys I would look at as vice-captains,” he added.

Pant, who was named DC captain for the IPL 2021 season after regular captain Shreyas Iyer was injured, has guided his team to eight wins in eleven games so far.