As the ICC announced the fixtures for the forthcoming edition of the T20 World Cup 2024, in the USA and the West Indies, the discussions about the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to take centre stage.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that it’s essential for Rohit and Kohli to return for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West. Speaking on Star Sports, the batting legend said not only their batting prowess but their fielding skills and leadership qualities are something which the team would require to win the title.
“Virat Kohli’s form has been outstanding for the past 1.5 years. He also played brilliantly at the ODI World Cup. So, there should not be any debate over his batting prowess in limited-overs cricket. A massive aspect is that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are still excellent fielders,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“Sometimes, you get slow when you are 35-36; your throw isn’t that good anymore. So, there are discussions over where to keep you while setting the field. That’s not a problem for these two because they are still terrific fielders. In addition to seniority in the dressing room, they will contribute on the field, too. We don’t know if Rohit will be captain, but whatever the case, any captain will surely benefit from that,” he added.
Following the conclusion of the South African tour, Team India will now host Afghanistan in 3 T20Is before shifting focus to 5 Tests against England, starting later this month.