Rohit Sharma says India must lock in playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026 during January’s New Zealand series
Rohit Sharma knows what it takes to win a marquee event.
Having led India to two title wins – in the T20 World Cup 2024, followed by this year’s Champions Trophy – he believes that given India’s fine run in T20Is, not much tweaking is needed.
“These guys are having a great run of late. I don’t think there’s much that needs to be changed. (But) The final prep will be just around when they play New Zealand. That’s when they should try and get their playing XI or their (squad of) 15 in mind,” Rohit said during the T20 World Cup 2026 schedule announcement ceremony in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Rohit appeared in all nine previous editions of the T20 World Cup, starting with the inaugural edition in 2007, which India won. And, as India and Sri Lanka host the T20 World Cup next year, Rohit was named as the brand ambassador for the tournament.
“While playing, nobody has been named the ambassador of the ICC, so it’s a great honour for me. Hopefully, we can create a magic like last time with a different bunch of boys,” Rohit, who retired from the format last year, said.
“I have completed 18 years of playing international cricket. We know how desperate we were when we had a trophy drought. Not being there will be different, but I’m getting used to it,” he added.
While Rohit continues to feature in the ODIs, he believes that, being a senior player, he enjoys the conversations with the current crop of players.
“I keep meeting all these guys (India T20 players); I’m still playing. I’m going to go to Ranchi (for ODIs against South Africa) and meet some of these guys there who are going to be part of the T20 setup,” Rohit said.
“There’s always a conversation that happens between the players, and I am somebody who likes to talk, discuss and get into their mindset a little bit and understand what they are thinking,” he added.
During his stint as the captain, Rohit stressed on clarity of roles for the players, and that, he believes, will be the key.
“I have always been that person who’s there to provide advice if there is one to be given or hear them out and see if there is a solution to be found for that,” he said.
Asked who he would like to see in the final, the former captain added, “I want India to be in the final. What happened is in the past. I don’t care about the opposition.”
Published on Nov 25, 2025
