Srinagar: While legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has pitched for inclusion of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Team India T20 World Cup 2024 squad, reports have claimed that selectors doesnt want both Rohit and Kohli in its T20 plans.
Today BCCI is set to announce its T20 squad for Afghanistan series and it will almost clear the suspense surrounding the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in T20 International Cricket.
Rohit and Kohli have not played T20Is for more than a year now. Their last appearance in the shortest format was in the World Cup semi-final against England in 2022.
However, both have reportedly made the selectors know about their keenness to have one last crack at laying their hands on an ICC trophy.
According to a latest PTI report, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is not that keen on keeping Rohit and Kohli together in the squad.
“If you have Rohit, Shubman Gill, Virat, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik constituting your top five then where is your left-hander? Now, let’s assume you drop Kohli and play Gill at No.3 with Yashasvi Jaiswal opening with Rohit. Can Ajit take that bold call,” a former national selector was quoted by PTI on the condition of anonymity.
“The flexibility will always be an issue but there would always be external factors that need to be countered. Did you see ICC promoting the tourney with Kohli’s giant billboard video in New York. MI handle put that aerial advert of Rohit and Shaheen Shah Afridi. So there will be external pressure,” a former BCCI office-bearer said.