There have been reports of the Indian Cricket Board wanting to faze out Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the T20I format and build a younger team with Hardik Pandya at the helm. The recent trend of the two stars not playing in the bilateral T20I series has only fueled the rumours.
Both have missed India’s two T20I series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka since the 20-20 World Cup in November. They have not been named to India’s T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand series either. Amid the Indian Cricket Board’s continued silence on the issue, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has given his opinion on the future of the two batting legends in Twenty20I cricket.
Gavaskar told India Today that the new selection committee wants to give more opportunities to new players, so they rested Kohli and Rohit, who also need this time away from the game to rest up for the Australia series, which begins on February 9.
“The way I see it is that the next T20 World Cup is in 2024, next year, and the new selection committee that has come wants to give more opportunities to the younger players. That doesn’t mean that Kohli and Rohit won’t be considered anymore. And if they have an impressive form throughout 2023 then they have to be in the team. The other factor is with the Australia series starting, the selectors might have wanted to rest them for the big contest so that they can make a fresh start against the Aussies and that will benefit India,” he said.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in recent T20Is
