Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir reckons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be part of the T20 World Cup if they are in good form. Both the veterans last played a T20I for the national team in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022 against England.
Since then, Hardik Pandya has been leading the team in the shortest format of the game. With the T20 World Cup set to be played next year, Gambhir backed the experienced duo to get back into the T20I team. 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 were brilliant 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.
“See, it all depends on the form. Ultimately, it’s the form. Good thing is it’s happening after the IPL. 100 percent. They should be part of the World Cup if they are in good form. For me, form is important. For a T20 World Cup, you want to take players who are in really good form. If Rohit and Virat are in good form, they should absolutely be picked for the World Cup,” Gambhir told ANI.
Gambhir also backed Rohit Sharma to lead India in the T20 World Cup as the Indian skipper did a fantastic job in the recently concluded ODI showpiece. Rohit also has all the leadership experience under his belt and he has led Mumbai Indians to five titles in the IPL.
“Rohit has done a very, very good job. It’s not easy to win 5 IPL trophies. And then the way India dominated in the last 50-over World Cup… One bad game doesn’t make Rohit Sharma or this team a bad team and the way they dominated… I can still understand if you win tight games, the way they played… it’s not fair to say Rohit is a bad captain after just one bad game,” Gambhir added.
“I think if Rohit Sharma is in good form, he should be leading in T20 World Cup. Whoever is not in good form shouldn’t be picked for the T20 World Cup, as simple as it can. Captaincy is a responsibility. First, you get yourself selected as a player and then you are made a captain. Captain is someone who should have a permanent position in the XI and it depends on form,” he said.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be seen in action in the two-match Test series against South Africa.
