Returning to the commentary box after a decade, former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu anticipates the upcoming IPL 2024 to have a significant impact on the T20 World Cup squad selections, not only for India but for other nations as well.
Expressing his views in an interview facilitated by the IPL’s official broadcaster ‘Star Sports’, Sidhu highlighted the IPL’s role in setting the stage for the World Cup, emphasizing the opportunity it provides for players to secure spots in their respective national teams.
Sidhu stated, “The IPL will set the tone for the World Cup. There is no other cricket happening. The eyes of the world are on IPL. This is where you can snatch a berth for the T20 World Cup, not only Indians, even the foreign players.”
Virat Kohli better than Rohit Sharma: Navjot Singh Sidhu
Regarding the inclusion of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20 squad, Sidhu emphasized their importance, citing their stature in the cricketing world and their ability to adapt to different formats. He particularly praised Kohli for his fitness and technical prowess, foreseeing a continued dominance by the Indian team.
“I would rate Kohli as the greatest Indian batsman for the simple reason, of his fitness, he is getting fitter with age like old wine does. Technically very sound and he has the uncanny knack of adapting to all three formats, same goes for Rohit,” Sidhu explained in his inimitable style.
Sidhu elaborated, “Both are quality players. I am not sure about Rohit’s fitness levels. With age you tend to slow down, your reflexes tend to go. Sehwag with those glasses, his reflexes were not the same, I saw it in the IPL.”
“In the recent World Cup they were playing very well, they just had one bad game, one bad game cannot asses the fortunes of a team. I see the Indian team ruling the roost for a long time because the system that breeds cricketers is very congenial and conducive.
“In my time, people would carry on despite bad form because there were no replacements. Now, Hardik Pandya is replacing the Indian captain as captain at Mumbai Indians because he has performed so well.
“Not that it is derogatory to Rohit but it is just a thought process. The old order must change yielding place to the new,” concluded Sidhu.
