Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra has put his weight behind Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in the T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit and Virat once again proved their mettle in the ODI World Cup but they last played a T20I for India in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Since then Hardik Pandya has been leading the national team in the shortest format of the game whereas Suryakumar Yadav is currently leading in the five-match T20I series in the absence of injured all-rounder.
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.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli batted at their absolute best in the recently concluded World Cup 2023. Rohit scored 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.
Ashish Nehra said on JioCinema ahead of the first T20I against Australia, “Virat Kohli is scoring 800 runs, 1000 runs in a calendar year. The way Rohit Sharma is batting, any selector will be tempted. Although they might have a discussion about whether or not Kohli and Rohit want to play the format ‘okay I might not play, I might rest.”
Nehra continued: “Unless they announce their retirement from the format in some time, I hope that’s not the case. Both Rohit and Virat are good enough to play any format as long as they are scoring runs and having fun.”
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have all the experience under their belt and it would make sense to add them to the T20I setup. However, it has been reported by PTI that Rohit Sharma won’t play in T20Is anymore.
The second T20I between India and Australia will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
