Can’t say no to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli if they are available for T20 World Cup: Kris Srikkanth

Former attacking Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in the T20 World Cup. Srikkanth reckons the selectors and the team management can’t say no to the experienced duo if they are available for selection.

Rohit and Virat hold all the experience under their belt but they last played in T20I format back in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2022, which India lost against England.

While Kohli has scored 4008 runs in 115 T20I matches at an average of 52.74, Rohit has amassed 3853 runs in 148 matches at an average of 30.82. Kohli and Rohit were not picked in the T20I squad for the three-match series against South Africa.

The duo was brilliant in the World Cup 2023, with Rohit scoring 597 runs in 11 matches of the World Cup 2023 at an average of 54.27 and a blistering strike rate of 125.95. The talisman scored three fifties and one century in the ODI showpiece.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli finished the tournament as the highest run-getter with 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.32. Ergo, he was awarded Player of the tournament for his consistent performances.

“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,” Kris Srikkanth said in his YouTube show.

“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.

“Virat Kohli would 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,” Srikkanth added.

Srikkanth reckons the selectors will also have to look at Hardik Pandya’s fitness before giving him the captaincy reins.

“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.”

India will play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting 11th January.