Irfan Pathan says India’s authorities should prepare for Rohit Sharma’s departure.

In 2024, Irfan Pathan, a former all-rounder for India, said that the country should concentrate on grooming a successor to Rohit Sharma. Currently leading the squad in the Test series against South Africa is Rohit, who guided the team to the final of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Especially during the eagerly anticipated 2024 T20 World Cup, there were rumors that he might not be the team’s captain going forward.

According to Pathan, there can be a lot of changes in 2024; hence, India needs to have two or more players ready to take Rohit’s place. The 39-year-old continued by discussing the leadership qualities and contributions of Virat Kohli to the team.

“A lot of changes are likely to occur in 2024. Therefore, we won’t have too many issues if we prepare two or three leaders. The leaders you will prepare should also be the main focus. Under Virat Kohli’s guidance, the Indian side excelled in Test cricket for five years in a row. They made it to the top spot. He was quite fit. He gave a strong effort in each game and got the best out of the team each time. The team performed exceptionally well under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Who will win the Asia Cup following Rohit Sharma, as we witnessed in the World Cup?” In a conversation with Star Sports, Pathan stated.

In 2024, the Indian team must have a strong fast-bowling unit ready. Irfan Pathan

Irfan continued by saying that another area on which India will concentrate this year is putting together a strong fast-bowling unit. In the current Test series, the former cricket player turned pundit claimed that India lacked potential backups and mentioned how the absence of Mohammed Shami had an impact on the visiting team in the first match. He also said that if Jasprit Bumrah is hurt, things will get bad for India.

“In my opinion, the Indian team must have a strong fast-bowling squad ready for 2024. What transpired in South Africa was seen. Our quick bowling backups weren’t particularly good or prepared. You felt Mohammed Shami’s absence, not because they lacked quality, but because they weren’t ready.

“It means, God forbid, if something happens to Jasprit Bumrah, we have seen him getting injured earlier because of his action; we will look left and right and we won’t get quality bowlers like that,” the former cricketer went on to say.