Despite India’s success in the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan, Rohit Sharma, playing his 150th T20I, faced another setback, walking back for a duck. Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel, however, assures that Rohit’s recent struggles won’t impact World Cup squad selections. Patel believes that once players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are picked for a series, it implies their selection for the World Cup.

While Patel downplays the current series as a World Cup selection platform, the pressure on Rohit Sharma to break his recent duck is undeniable. Rohit has experienced two consecutive T20I innings with ducks, returning to the format after a 14-month hiatus. His last T20I appearance for India was in the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal defeat to England.

“I don’t see this series as a selection series for the World Cup. I don’t think any player, performing or not, will impact their chances of World Cup selection, especially when you are talking about Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. Once you have picked them for the series, it means they are going for the World Cup,” reinstated Parthiv Patel.

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Despite his recent form, Patel emphasizes that established players like Rohit and Kohli won’t face World Cup exclusion based on a single series. As India approaches the final T20I against Afghanistan, Rohit Sharma will likely approach the game aggressively, aiming to set the tone for the team.

Parthiv Patel comments on Rohit Sharma’s desire to score runs and set the tone for the team, predicting a strong comeback. Patel’s insights suggest that the current T20I series is not a make-or-break scenario for experienced players, emphasizing the long-term selection strategy for major tournaments like the T20 World Cup.

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“Rohit Sharma personally would like to score runs. He likes to set the tone and if he gets in, he would like to make it a big one,” said Parthiv Patel about what he expects from the Indian opener in the upcoming T20I.

Having dominated the first two T20Is against Afghanistan, India aims for a clean sweep in the final encounter. The third T20I is scheduled at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, commencing at 7 PM IST.