What is Rohit Sharma's record as captain in the World Test Championship?
Rohit Sharma will lead India in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which will be played from September 19 to October 1. The first Test will be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and the second at Green Park in Kanpur. The series will be part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
After the two Tests against Bangladesh, Rohit will captain India in three Tests against New Zealand. This series will also be played at home in October-November, with matches to be held in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai.
India will then head to Australia for a five-match Test series from November 22 to January 7. The build-up to the much anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy has already begun. Rohit is also likely to be in charge when India take on England in five away Tests from June 20 to August 4.
Rohit Sharma has an impressive record as captain in the World Test Championship
Rohit took over as Test captain from Virat Kohli during their previous World Test Championship cycle. The latter quit the post in January 2022 following India's 2-1 Test series loss in South Africa. Given Kohli's impressive record as Test leader, Rohit had big boots to fill but has done an impressive job over the last two years.
The 37-year-old has led India in 16 WTC matches out of which the team has won 10 and lost only four. Two of the other matches ended in a draw. One of the defeats, however, was massive as it came against Australia in the final of the 2023 World Test Championship. India went down to the Aussies by 209 runs in the summit clash played at The Oval.
Rohit's stint as India captain in the WTC began with a 2-0 win over Sri Lanka at home in March 2022. India then beat Australia 2-1 at home in February-March 2023 before going down to the same opponent in the WTC final at The Oval. India then won the two-match series in West Indies in July 2023 by a 1-0 margin.
After being humbled by an innings and 32 runs by South Africa in the first Test in Centurion in December 2023, India began the New Year on a high, with a seven-wicket win in Cape Town, thus squaring the two-match series 1-1. In their most recent Test assignment, India thumped England 4-1 at home in January-March.
Rohit has done well with the willow too in the World Test Championship. In 16 matches, he has 1,090 runs to his name at an average of 41.92, with four tons.