Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan wants India to back Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Both Kohli and Rohit last played in the semifinal of the 2022 T20 World Cup against England but they haven’t played in the shortest format of the game since then.
While Kohli has scored 4008 runs in 115 T20I matches at an average of 52.74, Rohit has amassed 3853 runs in 148 matches at an average of 30.82. Kohli and Rohit were not picked in the T20I squad for the three-match series against South Africa.
Rohit and Virat have all the experience under their belt and they will aim to deliver in the T20I showpiece if they get picked. The duo was brilliant in the World Cup 2023, with Rohit scoring 597 runs in 11 matches of the World Cup 2023 at an average of 54.27 and a blistering strike rate of 125.95. The talisman scored three fifties and one century in the ODI showpiece.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli finished the tournament as the highest run-getter with 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.32. Ergo, he was awarded Player of the tournament for his consistent performances.
Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports, “I personally want to see him because if we talk about two years ago, he didn’t have the form, but his last IPL was amazing. On West Indian pitches, and you will go to America, there is a little unknown area there, so you might need experience there.”
“It will be up to what the team management is thinking and what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are thinking currently, their focus and fitness, but I personally want to see both these players.”
Meanwhile, Rohit had played aggressively in the ODI World Cup and delivered at the top of the order. Pathan has backed Rohit to convert his ODI form into the T20I version.
“Rohit Sharma has changed his approach and is scoring runs in a terrific fashion in ODI cricket. So if he converts that into T20 cricket – why not? Experience always comes in handy in such big tournaments.”
Pathan added the team will need the services of experienced Virat Kohli while playing in unknown American conditions.
“You will need Virat Kohli in America. You are going to a new place. So I feel, firstly because of the pitches, and from an off-the-field perspective also, you might need him.”
India is yet to announce the squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
