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'Captain Rohit And Kohli..' - Wasim Akram Backs India's Heart-Throbs For WC 2024

image-lpdv6h03Rohit Sharma (left) & Virat Kohli (AP Photos)

Pakistan fast-bowling legend Wasim Akram believes India shouldn't throw in all their bets on youth and must back the experience of legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean and the USA next June. 

Given that the two giants of Indian cricket haven't appeared in any T20I since India's painstaking semifinal defeat in last year's edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia, speculations have been rife on their future in the shortest format. 

While the outside world isn't privy to the backroom discussions, reports have circled around that the BCCI regime has given Kohli and Rohit the freedom to decide their fate in T20Is. Both are approaching the back half of their thirties and could revisit their futures in the coming days in the aftermath of the ICC World Cup 2023. 

Wasim Backs Rohit, Kohli To Play 2024 T20 World Cup

For Wasim, however, there is little doubt that the answer for both of them should be 'yes' if they were asked whether they should continue playing T20Is and focus on achieving T20 World Cup glory next summer. The Sultan of Swing urged the selection committee to not approach the tournament in the West Indies & USA with a singleminded focus on youth and must uphold experience as a key factor. 

Speaking to Sportskeeda in a discussion alongside former India opener Gautam Gambhir, two former cricketers also suggested the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel request Rohit to return as a full-time T20I captain, although premier allrounder Hardik Pandya has staked his claim as a potential successor in the format over multiple assignments in the past 12 months.

"The T20 World Cup is happening within six months from now. I will pick both of them (Rohit & Virat). They will be the main players for India right now, both Virat and skipper Rohit. You need a bit of experience in T20. Saarey young bachchey nahi rakh sakte aap (Can't keep only the youngsters)," Wasim said. 

For Gambhir, Rohit's leadership acumen weighed big in the discussion as he backed the highly successful Mumbai Indians (MI) captain to bag one silverware in the Indian jersey and for Kohli to support him in the task.

"Don't pick Rohit Sharma just as a batter. Rohit Sharma is a phenomenal leader and he showed it with his batting in the ODI World Cup. So, if you pick Rohit as you should, then he should be the captain and not just a batter. And Virat automatically picks himself," he added.