Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar recently expressed strong support for the inclusion of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The ICC has confirmed that the tournament will commence on June 1, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar highlighted Kohli's exceptional form, particularly his performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, where he emerged as the top run-scorer with 765 runs in 11 innings. Gavaskar also emphasised the importance of both Kohli and Sharma's fielding abilities, along with their extensive experience, as crucial factors for their selection.
"Kohli's form has been outstanding in the last 1.5 years. He played unbelievably in the 2023 World Cup, making 750-plus runs with 3 centuries. So, there is no doubt about his limited-overs batting. But what makes me feel good is their fielding capacity. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still great fielders and will be of great help on the field," Sunil Gavaskar said.
The last time Rohit and Kohli played in a T20I for India was during the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup against England in Australia. Since then, they have not participated in any T20I matches for the country. Hardik Pandya assumed the captaincy role for India in T20Is.
Following Pandya's ankle injury, Suryakumar Yadav led the Indian team in T20I matches against Australia and South Africa. Kohli and Sharma, however, have made themselves available for the upcoming 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting January 11, which will be India's final series before the World Cup.
The T20 World Cup this year will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups. India is placed in Group A, alongside Ireland, the USA, Canada, and Pakistan. The much-anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for June 9 in New York.
Gavaskar's backing of Kohli and Sharma underscores their value and potential impact in the T20 World Cup, considering their track record and recent performances. Their participation in the series against Afghanistan will be a key preparation step for the team leading up to the World Cup.
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