Amid the uncertainty regarding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s availability in India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has had his say. According to Gambhir, form should be the only criterion while deciding the future of these seniors in the shortest format.
Rohit and Virat haven’t played in T20Is for India since the end of the T20I World Cup 2022 in Australia. The T20I against England in Sydney was their last match as they didn’t get to play in the shortest format of the game due to the BCCI’s workload management approach.
However, it is expected that neither Rohit nor Virat will be part of the BCCI long-term plans in T20Is as they are looking at the next generation of players to lead the team.
“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.
Both Rohit and Virat have been in blistering form in the recently-concluded World Cup. Virat was named the Player of the tournament after scoring 765 runs in 11 matches, including 9 fifties. Rohit, on the other hand, was the second-highest run-getter in the tournament, scoring 597 runs in 11 matches.
If the BCCI indeed banks on form while choosing the squad for the T20 World Cup, Virat and Rohit will walk in any day into the team. If both seniors want to play in the shortest format anymore is another debate altogether.