West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell feels it would be wrong for India to go into the 2024 T20 World Cup without the star players – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Despite being star players, questions have been going around about their participation in next year’s T20 World Cup. They have not played T20Is since India’s 10-wicket loss in the semi-final at the hands of England at the World Cup last year.
In an interview with Hindustan Times on the sidelines of the Legends League Cricket (LLC), Russell added, “I don’t know why this is a big thing (the debate on Rohit and Virat),” Russell said. “Social media can actually get in the way of cricketers by questioning their potential. Rohit with the experience and Virat being Virat, it would be madness if India pick a team for the (T20) World Cup and they are not in them.”
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“Experience in World Cups is very important,” Andre Russell further added. “You can’t send 11 young soldiers to the battlefield. You have to have experience. The young Indian players will give them a run for their money. They have been good in the chances that they have got but I think when the pressure moments come, you need big players.”
Despite the loss in the 2023 World Cup final, Kohli and Rohit were in sublime form in the recently concluded home ODI World Cup. They finished as the tournament’s top two leading run-scorers, with Kohli leading the chart with 765 runs and Rohit finishing second with 597 runs as well.
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Andre Russell concluded, “Rohit is a big game player. Kohli loves the big stage. When a player enjoys being in such a situation, he is not nervous or tentative. I hope the board doesn’t listen to the media and decide.”I would definitely give them this World Cup. Don’t treat big players like that. They have done so much for Indian cricket. They are right in that bracket of Sachin Tendulkar. So, it will be unfair to them. It will be madness if they are not picked.”
