Former India player Sunil Gavaskar said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s place in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad will depend on their form in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. India will take on Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series, with the first game taking place in Mohali on Thursday, January 11. Rohit and Kohli have been added to the 16-member squad for the series, with the former also being named the captain.

During an interaction on the Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’, Gavaskar said: “I feel the IPL form will be crucial because that will be the current form. The Afghanistan series is in January. The World Cup is in June. So whoever has good form in March, April and May should be given consideration first, that performance should be given consideration.”

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However, he also added that the duo should be added based on their experience even if they have a normal outing in the IPL.

He shared, “Along with that, I will also say that even if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have an ordinary IPL, but they score runs there, you cannot score runs in every match, but suppose they make good contributions in five out of 14 matches, you will have to take advantage of their experience, and you can probably pick them in the team.”

However, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are the top two run-getters in T20I cricket. While Kohli has amassed 4008 runs at an impressive strike rate of 137.96 in 107 T20I innings, Rohit has smashed 3853 runs at a strike rate of 139.24 in 148 games as well.

“I will also say that, it’s an out-of-the-box suggestion, you can take them along with the team as well, if you cannot pick them in the 14 (15), because of their experience. If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the dugout, imagine what will be the team’s confidence,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.