• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Kohli Certain Rohit Hurt Wc Winning Opener On Ro Ko Return For 2024 T20 World Cup

'Kohli Certain, Rohit Hurt': WC-Winning Opener On Ro-Ko Return For 2024 T20 World Cup

image-lr4nl2fbKohli and Sharma last played for India in T20 WC 2022 [X.com]

After days of pondering over India's T20I squad for the Afghanistan series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selection committee zeroed in on a 16-member contingent, which will captained by Rohit Sharma, and will see the return of former skipper Virat Kohli.

Both Sharma and Kohli have not featured in a T20I for India since the semi-final ouster from ICC T20 World Cup 2022. 

With no Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav available for selection, the BCCI have shown their faith in Sharma, which is an indication of signs to come, given T20 World Cup 2024 is just months away.

Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who is known for his no-nonsense remarks, has backed the power-packed duo for the upcoming T20 WC. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the 1983 World Cup winner stated that Kohli's place is certain, while Sharma is undroppable. 


Srikkanth on Kohli, Sharma return before WC

"Virat Kohli is a certainty. He is in great form. Rohit Sharma, maybe, is confident because of how he scored in the World Cup. He will regroup and try and do well in the IPL. If Rohit Sharma says I am available, you can't say you will drop him. At the end of the day, Rohit Sharma is also hurt that he has lost a World Cup. He would like to go out with a World Cup in his hand at least. He was there in the 2007 World Cup. He would want to do something similar, win a World Cup, and go out."

Srikkanth further added that Kohli, who finished the T20 World Cup 2022 as a leading run-getter, will be eager to add a T20 WC title to his trophy cabinet as well, having won the World Cup in 2011. 

“Virat Kohli would definitely want to win a T20 World Cup. Moreover, last year only the T20 World Cup took place, 13 months back. Virat Kohli was in extraordinary form. If they say they are available, I don't think you can drop them. If you want to give captaincy to Hardik, you can. But you have to also look at his (Hardik's) fitness."

Sharma-led India will take on Afghanistan in Mohali in the first T20I on January 11, before the caravan moves to Indore and Bengaluru for the second and third T20Is, scheduled for January 14 and January 17 respectively.