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'Dangerous To Write Off..,' Root Warns Against Age-Based Removal Of Kohli And Rohit

Vaibhav Tripathi

image-lmhg9uqeRohit Sharma (L) and Virat Kohli (R). (X.com)

England's former captain and star batter Joe Root, believes that age should not be the sole criterion for evaluating a cricketer's future. He emphasized that it is unwise to assume that esteemed players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are approaching the twilight of their careers based solely on their age.

In an interview with the Times of India, Root was asked whether Kohli and Rohit should prioritize ODIs and Tests and make way for younger talents in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Having seen the careers of both Kohli and Rohit from close quarters in the international scene, Root responded by saying that it’s dangerous to “write off” players like Kohli and Rohit because of their age.

"I think it's very dangerous just to write off players like Virat and Rohit because of their age. Look at how long Chris Gayle, for example, played T20 cricket. Some of the best players in the world have extended their careers, especially in T20 cricket, and have delivered outstanding performances. As long as you're fit, you continue to play,"  Joe Root said during his conversation with the Times of India.

At present, Rohit and Kohli, the captain and star batter of India, are participating in the Asia Cup, where they have been in exceptional form. Rohit, who recently crossed the 10,000-run milestone in ODIs, leads the run charts in this edition of the Asia Cup with 194 runs in four matches, boasting an average of 64.67. 

Meanwhile, the Indian batting maestro, Kohli, who recently surpassed 13,000 runs in ODIs, has accumulated 129 runs in four matches at an average of 64.50 in the continental event.

Notably, Rohit and Kohli recently became the eighth pair of batters to amass 5,000 runs together in ODI cricket. They are also the third Indian pair to achieve this milestone in ODIs, following in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, and they accomplished this feat more swiftly than anyone else.