• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Youll Need Experienced Players Irfan Pathan Backs Kohli Rohit To Play T20 World Cup 2024

'You'll Need Experienced Players..'- Irfan Pathan Backs Kohli, Rohit To Play T20 World Cup 2024

image-lr1s0mj2Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli haven't played T20Is since Nov 2022 (Twitter)

Irfan Pathan urged India's selectors and team management to consider the unique nature of conditions in the Caribbean & USA and give preference to experience above youth in picking modern-day stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the 2024 T20 World Cup. 

The former India speedster once again echoed his sentiments in favour of the two giants and their return to the T20I outfit ahead of the biannual ICC event scheduled in June. Kohli and Rohit haven't played the shortest format for India since the previous edition of the tournament in Australia in November 2022. 

Since then, the two players' future in T20Is for India has been a matter of debate. While some suggest the two veterans should give up the format and focus on prolonging their careers in Tests and ODIs, longstanding supporters wish to see them give one more go for the T20 World Cup title. 


Pathan On Kohli, Rohit Ahead Of T20 World Cup 

Speaking to Star Sports, Pathan also voiced in favour of the return of Kohli and Rohit in the T20I set-up but with a tactical reason, underlining the challenge posed by the dry, turning surfaces in the Caribbean & USA where experience and skill will be worth their weight in gold. 

"Personally, I would like to see Virat on the pitch because when we talk about two years back, definitely he was not in his best form. But the last IPL and T20 were one of the most amazing tournaments for him," Pathan said. 

"Also, when you are playing in countries like West Indies and the USA, there are quite a few unknown pitches, and here you will need experienced players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both on and off the field," he added. 

Even though the two players have been curiously mum about their respective futures in the T20I version, more clarity is expected in the coming days when the selectors finally announce the squad for the upcoming three-match series at home against Afghanistan, starting January 11.