IPL 2020: Calls grow for Rohit Sharma to replace Virat Kohli as India's T20 captain

Rohit led Mumbai to a fifth title in 13 editions of the Twenty20 tournament while Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore came up short again

Virat Kohli, captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, after the defeat to Sunrisers that ended their IPL 2020 campaign. Sportzpics for BCCI

Kane Williamson and Jason Holder of Sunrisers Hyderabad celebrate their victory over Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Kane Williamson of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

David Warner, captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, plays a shot. Sportzpics for BCCI

Jason Holder of Sunrisers Hyderabad in action. Sportzpics for BCCI

Mohammed Siraj of Royal Challengers Bangalore celebrates the wicket of David Warner. Sportzpics for BCCI

India captain Virat Kohli is facing growing calls for him to hand over some of his duties to Rohit Sharma after the latter guided Mumbai Indians to another IPL title on Tuesday.

Rohit led Mumbai to a fifth title in 13 editions of the Twenty20 tournament, held this year exclusively in the UAE amid the growing cases of Covid-19 back home.

Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore again came up short, prompting calls for Rohit to take over the captaincy of the national T20 side.

India leave for Australia this week to begin a two-week coronavirus quarantine before playing three T20s, three one-day internationals and four Tests.

Following the IPL final, former India batsman Gautam Gambhir and ex-England captain Michael Vaughan called for Rohit to be given the India T20 armband.

"Rohit has won five IPL titles; he is the most successful captain in the history of the tournament," Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo.

"Going forward, it'll be a shame if he doesn't get India's white-ball [limited overs] or just T20 captaincy."

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Mumbai beat Delhi to win IPL 2020

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Rohit has transformed Mumbai since taking over the captaincy from Australian great Ricky Ponting in 2013, and all five of their titles have come under his leadership.

Kohli's Bangalore bowed out of this season's tournament in the playoffs, and that after two bottom-placed finishes in the previous three editions.

Vaughan also backed Rohit to become India's T20 leader.

"Without question Rohit Sharma should be the Indian T20 captain," he wrote on Twitter, describing him as a "fantastic man manager and leader".

"He knows exactly how to win T20 games. It would also give Virat a chance to take a breather and just be the player."

Vaughan said relieving Kohli of the captaincy was not "an admittance of failure", but rather "what is best for the Indian cricket team".

Rohit is not included in India's one-day and T20 teams for Australia as he is recovering from a hamstring injury that saw him a miss several IPL games.

The 33-year-old will be part of the four Tests, however, while Kohli will miss three of them as he is taking paternity leave after the opening match in Adelaide.

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IPL 2020 team of the tournament