Rohit Sharma appointed as India's full-time Test captain
The 34-year-old's appointment comes after Virat Kohli stepped down from the position following India's Test series loss to South Africa in January. The two-Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning on 4 March, is set to be Rohit's first assignment as full-time Test captain.
While he has been an established member of India’s limited-overs sides for over a decade, he had a stop-start Test career until a few years ago.
He has now become India’s first-choice Test opener and his strong performances led to him being included in the ICC’s 2021 Test team of the year. In all, Rohit has 3047 runs in 43 Tests, at a solid average of 46.87.
India's selection committee chairman Chetan Sharma believes Rohit is more than capable of leading the country in all three formats.
"Rohit Sharma is the No.1 cricketer of our country," Sharma said.
"Today's professional cricketers manage their body and Rohit has no problem at all and he is absolutely OK (to lead the team in all formats).
"And if such a big and experienced cricketer comes forward and becomes captain then the future captains to be groomed under Rohit would be a tremendous thing for us."
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Rohit also has the backing of Australia legend Ricky Ponting, who on the first episode of The ICC Review released on 31 January, endorsed him to become India's Test captain.
"I was at Mumbai Indians when Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy there," Ponting told The ICC Review. "I was bought in the auction to be their captain and unfortunately, I wasn't playing well enough after the first few games to keep myself in the team, so I had to make room for another international player to come into the side.
"The owners and the team management wanted to know who I thought would be the appropriate person to take over the leadership at the Mumbai Indians. There were a few names thrown around between owners and the other coaches but it was really clear to me that there was only one guy that can lead the team – he was a young guy and his name happened to be Rohit Sharma.
"I think the proof is in the pudding with what he has done at the Mumbai Indians since that moment on. He has been a very successful leader there and has been when he has led India on a few occasions as well.
"If I go back to what I said at the start about being on top of your game when you take over a captaincy role, then it is pretty hard to argue after what he has done with his Test cricket in the last 2-3 years. He has played as well as anybody in the world through that period of time, and we know how good he is as a white-ball player.”