In a recent appearance on the ‘Club Prairie Fire’ podcast alongside cricket legends Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan, Indian captain Rohit Sharma addressed rumours surrounding the team's strategy for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. While Rohit is currently not captaining his IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, for the first time since 2013, his leadership role with the national team remains crucial. During the podcast, Rohit dismissed all the reports which were suggesting that Virat Kohli might be seen opening with him in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
Rohit Sharma dismisses rumours on opening with Virat Kohli in T20 World Cup
When asked about the rumors of a new opening partnership for the T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma firmly denied them. He emphasised that any reports about the team's strategy, unless coming directly from head coach Rahul Dravid or chief selector Ajit Agarkar, should not be trusted.
The final 15-man squad for the World Cup, which begins on June 2, will be announced by the selection committee on May 1.
During the podcast, Rohit revealed he hasn't had discussions with either Dravid or Agarkar about potential opening partners or the top-order batting set up. Right now, the focus for all Indian players is on performing well in the IPL 2024 season. This tournament is seen as a crucial platform for World Cup selection, essentially a "rehearsal" for the marquee event.
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"We haven't met so far, we haven't decided who'll open at the World Cup (on him and Kohli opening). In today's age, until and unless you don't hear from me, Rahul bhai or Ajit bhai, everything else is fake", Rohit Sharma said via Club Prairie Fire podcast.
India's opening imbroglio ahead of T20 World Cup
The IPL isn't just a proving ground for Indian players, it's a global audition for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Every player, domestic and international, is vying for a coveted spot on their national team. Take Virat Kohli, for example. While leading the IPL run scorers with a staggering 361 runs in 7 matches, Kohli's stellar performance hasn't translated into wins for his struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Moreover, there are rumors of a preliminary list for the World Cup squad, with confirmed names like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant. However, the key question remains as to who will open alongside Rohit Sharma. Further speculation suggests only one of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be picked, while the middle order might see either Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh get the nod.
India's T20 World Cup journey kicks off on June 5. The team will strategically split their arrival, with some players flying out a week before the tournament begins. The remaining squad members will join them in the USA after the IPL final on May 16, with the exact timing depending on which teams qualify.
Their quest for glory starts with a match against Ireland on June 5. Then, cricket fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the highly anticipated India versus Pakistan clash scheduled for June 9 in New York. Following these exciting encounters, India will face the USA and Canada in their final group stage matches on June 12 and 15 respectively.
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