In the modern day of cricket , where Virat Kohli is considered to be the greatest player of the current era due to his pyrotechnics on and off the field, his availability for the upcoming mega event the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has grown huge interests amongst cricket lovers and fans . Virat Kohli over the years have burdened Indian hopes on his shoulders through immaculate innings in the shortest format of the game will like to give his all in conquest of the elusive ICC title for one last time
Though not playing T20I cricket over a year now the likes of Virat Kohli still remains a popular choice to play in shortest format. The other poster boy of Indian cricket who has carried India’s dream on his shoulder and an successful captain for his franchise in the Indian Premier league, current Indian captain Rohit Sharma is now brewing the headlines with a success on South Africa tour.
The swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma has once again made himself available for the upcoming mega event the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which could be his final journey in the conquest of the coveted ICC Title. However unlike Virat Rohit also has been out of T20I setup over the year and now his availability has created huge ambiguity amidst Indian fans and selectors who at once thought it could be a new team under Hardik Pandya would tour the Caribbean shores for the World Cup.
However injuries to Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav and the inconsistent form of Shreyas Iyer in the middle order propelled the selectors to go back to the services experienced duo of Virat and Rohit in the upcoming series versus the Afghanistan in Indian starting 11th January 2024.
While many have raised doubts on the inclusion of this experienced duo, it is sighted that BCCI and selectors are keen on giving them one last shot at the coveted ICC Title which has been eluding India since 2013 in the white ball format. Former Indian opener and Chief Selector Krishnamachari Srikanth has openly welcomed the inclusion of Virat and Rohit in the Indian T20 setup.
Virat Kohli is in great form, so is Rohit Sharma- Kris Srikanth
Former Indian opener and Chief Selector Kris Srikanth feels that the superstar duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma must be picked if available in India’s T20 squad for the World Cup in June. Despite coming off magnificent campaigns in the ODI World Cup, speculations have floated on the selection of the veteran batters in the T20I side. It is worth remembering both Kohli and Rohit haven’t played in T20Is for India since losing the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikanth believed Kohli’s selection was a no-brainer but felt Rohit should look to regroup in the IPL this season.
“If they say they are available, I don’t think you can drop them. If you want to give captaincy to Hardik, you can. But you have to also look at his (Hardik’s) fitness. Virat Kohli is a certainty. He is in great form. Rohit Sharma, maybe, is confident because of how he scored in the World Cup. He will regroup and try and do well in the IPL. If Rohit Sharma says I am available, you can’t say you will drop him,” said Kris Srikanth.
While Virat Kohli has been in sensational T20 form for India and the IPL, Rohit has struggled in the shortest format lately. However, they were the top two leading run-scorers in India’s final run in the recently concluded ODI World Cup with 765 and 597 runs, respectively and were instrumental in India reaching the Finals of the marquee tournament.
Virat Kohli would definitely want to win a T20 World Cup – Kris Srikanth
Kris Srikanth feels Virat Kohli would be desperate to win a T20 World Cup before bowing out. He also believed Rohit Sharma would be heartbroken with the ending in the recent ODI World Cup and would look to make amends despite being part of the 2007 T20 World Cup victory.
“Virat Kohli would definitely want to win a T20 World Cup. Moreover, last year only the T20 World Cup took place, 13 months back. Virat Kohli was in extraordinary form. At the end of the day, Rohit Sharma is also hurt that he has lost a World Cup. He would like to go out with a World Cup in his hand at least. He was there in the 2007 World Cup. He would want to do something similar, win a World Cup, and go out,” said Srikanth.
Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer in the 2022 T20 World Cup, scoring 296 runs at an average of 98.66 and a strike rate of 136.40. The former Indian captain has also been the Player of the Tournament twice in T20 World Cups in 2014 and 2016. Meanwhile, Rohit struggled in the 2022 edition with an average of under 20 and a strike rate of only 106.42 in six outings.
With such words of confidence , it would be now eager for Indian fans to see how the duo of Virat and Rohit perform in the upcoming series versus the Afghanistan and the IPL to follow in their built up to the mega event on the Caribbean shores later in June 2024.