T20 World Cup 2024: Sunil Gavaskar sheds light on why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be part of India’s squad

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed a firm belief that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should unquestionably be included in India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

T20 World Cup 2024 schedule revealed

The tournament’s schedule was unveiled on January 5, placing India in a group alongside Ireland, Pakistan, USA and Canada. India’s T20 World Cup campaign is set to kick off on June 5, with three group stage matches scheduled in New York and the final one in Florida.

Sunil Gavaskar’s perspective on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s T20I comeback

The primary debate surrounding the tournament has revolved around the participation of Kohli and Rohit, both of whom haven’t featured in any T20Is since India’s World Cup 2022 semi-final exit. Speaking to Star Sports, the former India captain emphasized that Kohli and Rohit not only excel as cricketers but also as fielders, showcasing no signs of decline after the age of 35.

“Virat Kohli’s form has been outstanding for the past 1.5 years. He also played brilliantly at the ODI World Cup. So, there should not be any debate over his batting prowess in limited-overs cricket. A massive aspect is that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are still excellent fielders. Sometimes, you get slow when you are 35-36; your throw isn’t that good anymore. So, there are discussions over where to keep you while setting the field. That’s not a problem for these two because they are still terrific fielders,” Gavaskar said.

Also READ: India’s cricket icon Yuvraj Singh predicts the winner of T20 World Cup 2024

Uncertainty surrounds Rohit’s captaincy: Gavaskar’s views on leadership role

While Gavaskar acknowledged uncertainty about Rohit leading Team India in the T20 World Cup 2024, he expressed confidence in the substantial benefits the Indian skipper’s presence would bring to the team. The 75-year-old urged considering these factors in determining Rohit and Kohli’s return to T20I cricket, emphasizing their all-around contributions and experience.

“In addition to seniority in the dressing room, they will contribute on the field, too. We don’t know if Rohit will be captain, but whatever the case, any captain will surely benefit from that,” the Mumbai-born cricketer concluded.

Also READ: England legend Nasser Hussain predicts the winner of T20 World Cup 2024