Rohit Sharma becomes oldest cricketer to captain India in ICC Cricket World Cup

Rohit Sharma is playing his first-ever game as captain in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Team India have begun their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign with a high-voltage encounter against Australia in Chennai. Indian fans expect the current Indian team under Rohit Sharma to end their decade-long ICC title drought. The last time India hosted the World Cup in 2011, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, they came out as champions. Rohit Sharma, despite having decent experience, was dropped from the 2011 World Cup squad due to poor form.

Now, in 2023, Rohit Sharma is leading Indian team and playing his first-ever game in the World Cup as captain. As he entered for the toss against Australia at Chepauk, Rohit also registered his name in the record books. Rohit Sharma has now become the oldest Indian player to lead team India in a World Cup game. Rohit is currently 36 years and 161 days old, and he is now the oldest Indian player to lead India in a World Cup game.

Rohit Sharma oldest to captain India in World Cup

Rohit Sharma has left behind former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin in this record. Azhar was 36 years and 124 days old when he led Indian cricket team in a 1999 World Cup game played in England. The third player on this list comes from current Indian head coach Rahul Dravid, who led India in the 2007 World Cup at the age of 34 years and 71 days. MS Dhoni was 33 years and 262 days old when he played his last game as captain in the 2015 World Cup.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was given the captaincy charge two years ago after a controversial power tussle between Virat Kohli and BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly. Rohit has led India in 34 ODI games so far. His winning percentage as an ODI skipper is magnificent, as he won 24 games and lost just 9. The winning percentage is 68.57, which is among the best in the world among current ODI skippers. Rohit carries a lot of expectations on his shoulders at this World Cup.

Australia won the toss and came out to bat first at Chepauk. Considering the conditions, Cummins wanted to make good use of batting conditions early on in the innings. Chennai will also not offer dew as the weather remains hot and humid in the southern part of India. India got the first wicket as Mitchell Marsh couldn’t stay for long and Virat Kohli plucked a great catch to dismiss Marsh on a 6-ball duck.