Kohli and Rohit have not played any T20I since November 2022.
However, their performance in the recent ICC World Cup 2023 was excellent with Kohli top-scoring with 765 runs with 3 centuries and six fifties. Rohit, on the other hand, made 597 runs with one century and 3 fifties but at an excellent strike rate.
Moreover, both Kohli and Rohit requested a break from white-ball cricket on the upcoming tour of South Africa and will only play in the two-Test series.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opined that the call for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's place in the T20 World Cup should be taken closer to the tournament.
"Who knows what's in store in life? I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I believe the approach should be extremely simple. We have played a lot of World Cups and haven't been able to win them. We are maybe playing slightly different cricket in the final stages of World Cups. When something goes out of your hand, simplify it. Pick your team based on form close to the World Cup," said Manjrekar on Star Sports.
Sourav Ganguly backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to be part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad
India’s wait for an ICC Trophy got extended as they lost to Australia in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on November 19.
Manjrekar said it's important that Kohli keeps performing in the shortest format of the game, stressing the need for the star batter to fire in the IPL. However, Kohli's strike rate, especially after the powerplay against spin, has led to questions about his place in the side in the past.
"Virat Kohli will have to show that he is a better option than the youngsters who are playing currently, and Rohit Sharma as T20 batter and captain vs Hardik Pandya, the T20 batter, all-rounder and captain," said Manjrekar.
India has 3 T20Is each against South Africa and Afghanistan and the IPL 2024 to assess their players before choosing the final squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 which will be played in June in West Indies and USA.