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Kris Srikkanth, the former captain and chief selector of India, has voiced strong support for including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in India's squad for the T20 World Cup in 2024. He emphasised that if these seasoned players are available, the selectors should certainly consider them for the premier event in June.
Srikkanth pointed out that Kohli, who was the top scorer in the 2022 T20 World Cup, is a vital asset for India’s T20 World Cup plans. He also noted that Rohit Sharma is likely to be highly motivated to make a significant impact in the upcoming World Cup, especially after the disappointment in the last year's ODI World Cup final.
These remarks from Srikkanth come at a time when India’s senior selection committee is preparing to meet and select the T20I team for the forthcoming series against Afghanistan. This series, comprising three T20Is, marks India's final international engagement in the shortest format before the World Cup. Notably, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been absent from T20Is since India's semi-final exit from the World Cup in November 2022.
"Virat Kohli is a certainty. He is in great form. Rohit Sharma, maybe, is confident because of how he scored in the World Cup. He will regroup and try and do well in the IPL. If Rohit Sharma says I am available, you can't say you will drop him," Kris Srikkanth said in his YouTube show.
"At the end of the day, Rohit Sharma is also hurt that he has lost a World Cup. He would like to go out with a World Cup in his hand at least. He was there in the 2007 World Cup. He would want to do something similar, win a World Cup, and go out.
"Virat Kohli would definitely want to win a T20 World Cup. Moreover, last year only the T20 World Cup took place, 13 months back. Virat Kohli was in extraordinary form.
"If they say they are available, I don't think you can drop them. If you want to give captaincy to Hardik, you can. But you have to also look at his (Hardik's) fitness," he added.
Both players have reportedly indicated their willingness to return to the T20I format, posing a challenge for selectors who have been focusing on nurturing young talent throughout 2023. Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, had discussions with senior players in South Africa, but a final decision on the team for the Afghanistan series is yet to be made.
The team has faced leadership challenges, with Hardik Pandya, the T20I captain for 2023, sidelined due to injury since the ODI World Cup, and Suryakumar Yadav, who led against Australia and South Africa, also out with an injury.
The BCCI senior selection committee is expected to convene in Mumbai on Sunday to deliberate on the roadmap for the T20 World Cup, including crucial decisions about the T20I futures of Kohli and Sharma. The meeting is also likely to address KL Rahul's potential return to the T20I setup, following his expressed interest in rejoining the team.
India is scheduled to play three T20Is against Afghanistan from January 11 to 17, with Afghanistan announcing a strong 19-member squad for the series in India.
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