The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series starting on August 3. As expected, several young players were included in the squad, while senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were left out.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not played a single T20I match since the Indian team’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2022. The selectors have cited a “break” for their exclusion. However, fans believe that the management is looking beyond the senior duo in the game’s shortest format.
In response to the squad announcement, Pakistan cricket legend Kamran Akmal expressed his views and raised questions about the omission of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Akmal suggested that the selectors should include them in the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, as he believes that India cannot field a competitive team for an ICC event without the presence of Kohli and Sharma.
Akmal emphasized that Kohli and Sharma are all-time greats in cricket and are followed by millions of fans. He stated it would be problematic if these two players were suddenly sidelined. While acknowledging that Rohit Sharma could be relieved of captaincy duties, Akmal still stressed the importance of his presence in the team.
Kamran Akmal said, “The selectors need to add Rohit and Virat to the team, as I do not think India can make an ICC team without them. They are all-time greats. Every kid follows Virat Kohli. It will be a problem if he and Rohit suddenly get sidelined. For Rohit, he also needs to be there, it is fine if you take away the captaincy from him, but his presence is important.”
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The comments from Kamran Akmal reflect the sentiments of many fans who believe that the experience and skills of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are crucial for the Indian team’s success in major ICC tournaments. However, the selectors and team management seem to be exploring options and providing opportunities to younger players in the T20I format.
As the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, it will be interesting to see how the selection process unfolds and whether Kohli and Sharma find their way back into the T20I squad. The dynamic nature of cricket demands a balance between experience and youth, and the selectors will have to make tough decisions to ensure the team’s success in the future.
