West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has said that it would be madness if veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not picked by the BCCI in the Team India squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The event will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA in June next year.
Both Rohit and Kohli were in amazing form with the bat during India’s dominating run in the recent ICC World Cup 2023. Though India failed to win the trophy, losing to Australia in the final on November 19; Kohli ended up with 765 runs in 11 matches, while Rohit scored 597 runs.
The duo is on a break at the moment and there is no clarity on whether they will continue in the T20I format. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played a T20I for India in November 2022 during the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Since then, Hardik Pandya has led the side with BCCI opting to field new faces in the shortest format of the game. But given how rich form, the two batters are at the moment, BCCI is keen on having Rohit Sharma lead the side in the T20 World Cup next year and Virat Kohli to play in the vent as well.
Like most from the Caribbean islands, Russell doesn't mince words. If it's in his mind, it will come out of his lips. And that's exactly what happened when he was asked about the future of Rohit and Kohli in T20Is.
“Don’t think Rohit has ever expressed his desire not to lead India in any format”- Aakash Chopra
"I don't know why this is a big thing (the debate on Rohit and Virat). Social media can actually get in the way of cricketers by questioning their potential. Rohit with the experience and Virat being Virat, it would be madness if India picks a team for the (T20) World Cup and they are not in them. Experience in World Cups is very important. You can't send 11 young soldiers to the battlefield. You have to have experience. The young Indian players will give them a run for their money. They have been good in the chances that they have got but I think when the pressure moments come, you need big players," Russell told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview.
Russell further said that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the Sachin Tendulkar bracket, as they are extremely important for the Indian team, especially in big events.
"Rohit is a big game player. Kohli loves the big stage. When a player enjoys being in such a situation, he is not nervous or tentative. I hope the board doesn't listen to the media and decide. I would definitely give them this World Cup. Don't treat big players like that. They have done so much for Indian cricket. They are right in that bracket of Sachin Tendulkar. So, it will be unfair to them. It will be madness if they are not picked,” he added.
