Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the T20I future of Indian cricket stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has thrown his weight behind their inclusion in the squad for next year’s World Cup. Akram believes that India would benefit immensely from the experience and expertise of both players, despite their age.
The BCCI and selectors have remained tight-lipped regarding any potential changes to India’s T20I plans, leaving the status of Rohit and Kohli’s involvement unclear. Since the conclusion of the T20 World Cup last year, India has opted to experiment with a younger squad, handing over the reins to Hardik Pandya in Rohit’s absence.
However, the resounding success of Rohit and Kohli in the ODI World Cup has prompted calls for their reinstatement in the T20I setup. Wasim Akram echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of their experience in a format that often demands quick decision-making and adaptability.
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“T20 World Cup is just a few months away. I will pick both. They will be the main players for India, no doubt about it. You need a little bit of experience in T20. You cannot solely rely on young guy,” Wasim Akram asserted on Sportskeeda.
Rohit Sharma, with his 148 matches, holds the record for the most T20Is played, while Kohli stands as the second-most experienced Indian cricketer in the format. Rohit’s T20I experience spans all eight editions of the Men’s T20 World Cup, including India’s victorious campaign in 2007.
Joining Wasim Akram in advocating for Rohit’s inclusion is batting legend Gautam Gambhir, who believes that Rohit should not only be part of the World Cup squad but also retain the captaincy.
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“They (Rohit and Kohli) both need to get picked, both should be picked and more importantly, I want to see Rohit Sharma as captain in the T20 World Cup,” Gautam Gambhir stated.
The 2024 T20 World Cup is scheduled to be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the United States.
