After the recently completed 2023 One Day International (ODI) World Cup, skipper Rohit Sharma and ex-captain Virat Kohli had requested the board for a break from the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour. There is uncertainty regarding whether the duo’s participation for T20 WC 2024.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 are around the corner next year, India set to enter the final preparation phase for the T20 World Cup 2024. So it will be interesting to see when Indian think tank approves the captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli’s return to the white-ball team.
India is without batting legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the whole white-ball leg of their South Africa tour, which is their first away series following the 2023 One Day International (ODI) World Cup. Many have speculated that India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, may have already played his final T20 international match. Rohit Sharma led the Indian team into the semi final of the T20 World cup 2022. Additionally, the 36-year-old led India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
In 2021, Kohli made the decision to step down as the Indian team’s T20I captain in order to better manage his workload. The India skipper and run-machine Kohli have received white-ball rest so that the seasoned campaigners can focus on the preparation for the upcoming Test series against the Proteas.
It’s all about their hunger- AB de Villiers on Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli
Ab de Villiers was seen speaking on his YouTube Channel about the uncertain future of Rohit and Kohli. Legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers backs the Indian batting stars to play in the T20 World Cup. Ab De Villiers said that
“We just have to see them there (Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli). It’s all about their hunger. Do they have the hunger to go there and win the T20 World Cup? I think so. I cannot speak on their behalf but I think they will want to go there and win. T20 World Cup is a short tournament and you do set yourselves up to have another chance of winning a World Cup. So I do see them going there”, said AB de Villiers.
Due to the injury of all-rounder Hardik Pandya , India appointed Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of Men In Blue for the Australia and South Africa series. De Villiers praised the decision of making Surya Kumar Yadav Captain in the T20Is.
“India captained by Surya Kumar Yadav is quite a nice move, I like that. He is a bit of a 360 (degree) player. He thinks differently and is a bit creative. It will be nice to watch him lead his troops in South Africa,” he added.