Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared his opinion regarding the spot of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2024. India will need the expertise of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the T20 World Cup later this year, according to him.
In T20I cricket, Rohit and Kohli are the top two run scorers. Rohit has scored 3853 runs in 140 innings at a slightly higher strike rate of 139.24, while Virat has amassed 4008 runs in 107 innings with a strike rate of 137.96.
A three-match Twenty20 International series between the Men in Blue and Afghanistan will begin on Thursday, January 11, in Mohali. Regarding the Afghanistan series and the following T20 World Cup, it is unclear at this point if Kohli and Rohit are on the selectors’ short list.
You might need experience of Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma on the West Indian and Unknown American pitches- Irfan Pathan
When discussing the T20 World Cup, Irfan Pathan was asked if he thought Kohli should be included in the Indian team. According to him, Rohit and Kohli ought to be included, as the Indian team will need the experience of these two guys at the big event.
Pathan further added that Virat Kohli didn’t have the form if we talk about two years ago, but his last IPL season was amazing. So his experience will be the key on the West Indies and American pitches.
“I personally want to see him because if we talk about two years ago, he didn’t have the form, but his last IPL was amazing. On West Indian pitches, and you will go to America, there is a little unknown area there, so you might need experience there,” said Irfan Pathan.
Irfan Pathan went on to say that he personally wants to see these two guys play in the World Cup, but it’s up to team management’s thinking and also about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s focus and fitness.
“It will be up to what the team management is thinking and what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are thinking currently, their focus and fitness, but I personally want to see both these players,” he added.
In ODI cricket, Rohit Sharma is accumulating runs in a fantastic manner after altering his strategy- Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan believes that the way Rohit Sharma has changed his approach to ODI cricket and scored runs in a terrific manner, if he continues his destructive ODI form into the T20I, then his form and experience will come in handy for such a big tournament.
“Rohit Sharma has changed his approach and is scoring runs in a terrific fashion in ODI cricket. So if he converts that into T20 cricket – why not? Experience always comes in handy in such big tournaments,” said Irfan Pathan.
During the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli will be crucial for the Men in Blue both on and off the field, according to the cricketer-turned-commentator.
“You will need Virat Kohli in America. You are going to a new place. So I feel, firstly because of the pitches, and from an off-the-field perspective also, you might need him,” he further added.
Virat Kohli was the leading scorer in the 2022 T20 World Cup with 296 runs at an incredible average of 98.67. Conversely, Rohit Sharma produced a disappointing performance, scoring 116 runs at a lackluster average of 19.33.
One thought on “ICC T2O World Cup 2024: “Personally, I Had Like To See These Two Guys”-Irfan Pathan On The Inclusion Of Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma In The Squad”