Veteran Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have reportedly taken decisions about their future with the Indian national cricket team in the T20I format. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could consider retiring from their T20 internationals after the conclusion of the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.
On Tuesday, April 30, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the 15-member squad for the ICC tournament. Rohit Sharma will lead India in the tournament while Virat Kohli will be an important player in the squad. The World Cup could be the last T20I appearance for the experienced batting duo.
According to a report by Sports Tak, the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024 will be Kohli and Rohit’s last appearance in the T20I format. The World Cup will be held from June 1 to 29 in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).
Kohli and Rohit missed all of India’s T20I matches after the 2022 World Cup until they returned for the Afghanistan series earlier this year. The Men in Blue suffered a heartbreaking defeat to England in the semi-final in Adelaide. The batting duo played a T20I series before the World Cup.
Kohli was exceptional in the T20 World Cup, scoring 1,141 runs from 25 innings at an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 131.30, including 14 half-centuries. Meanwhile, Rohit has scored 963 runs from 36 innings at an average of 34.39 and a strike rate of 127.89, with nine half-centuries.
Both Kohli and Rohit are the leading run-scorers in T20Is. The former RCB captain has amassed 4,037 runs at an average of 51.75, including a century and 37 fifties. Meanwhile, the experienced Indian opener has scored 3,974 runs at an average of 31.79, including five centuries and 29 half-centuries.
Would love to see more younger players in the T20 format – Yuvraj Singh
Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should continue playing until they decide to retire. Singh suggested that batters would retire from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup.
“As you get older, people start talking about your age and forget about your shape. These guys were great players for India and they deserve to go (retire) if they want to.” Yuvraj said.
“I would like to see more younger players in the T20 format because it takes the burden off them (experienced players) to play 50-overs (ODIs) and Test matches. After this (T20) World Cup, I would like to see a lot.” “Younger players come into the team and form the T20 team for the next World Cup,” he added.
Team India is placed in Group A in the upcoming tournament alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and the United States. They are expected to advance to the Super 8 stage after the group stage. Should they make it to the final four, the semi-final and final will take place in the last week of June.
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