Much discussion took place over the possible inclusion of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, but a return to T20I cricket after 14 months in the series against Afghanistan may have given a taste of what the selectors of the Indian cricket team plans. for the future. Both Rohit and Virat are returning to the sport's shortest format after last playing in November 2022. While questions still remain over their T20 World Cup squad, Sunil Gavaskar backed both of them to make the cut even as they have a regular Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign.
In a recent interaction with Star Sports, the legendary Indian batsman said that their experience will be crucial in the T20 World Cup and hence they should be picked for the competition.
“I think the IPL form will be crucial because that will be the current form. The Afghanistan series is in January. The World Cup is in June. So whoever has good form in March, April and May should first be taken into consideration, that performance In addition, I would also like to say that even if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have a regular IPL, but they score runs there, you cannot score runs in every match, but suppose they contribute well in five of the Fourteen matches, you will have to take advantage of their experience, and you can probably include them in the team,” Gavaskar said.
“I will also say that it is an out-of-the-box suggestion, you can also take them with the team, if you cannot pick them in the 14 (15) because of their experience. If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the dugout, imagine what the team's confidence will be,” he added.
Kohli will miss the first T20 International against Afghanistan due to “personal reasons”, head coach Rahul Dravid said on Wednesday.
Virat will miss tomorrow's match due to personal reasons, Dravid said at the start of the media interaction.
The former India captain will be available for the next two matches of the three-match series, Dravid said, adding, “Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma will open the innings” for India in the series opener on Thursday.
Both Rohit and Kohli return to the T20 format after 14 months.
Kohli last played in the shortest format in November 2022, his last match being India's semi-final loss to England in the T20 World Cup in Australia.
(With PTI inputs)
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