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Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two finest batters who have been the backbone of Indian cricket for over a decade, are currently in the midst of a transition phase. Following the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup, there is uncertainty over the participation of the two veterans in white-ball cricket.
Both Rohit and Kohli haven't featured in a T20 international since Team India's semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup 2022. The latest episode of the premier 20-over tournament is due to take place in June next year, but neither has been selected in the white-ball contest for the upcoming tour of South Africa.
The Indian Cricket Board has been building a core team of youngsters, many of whom have performed well in the past year. However, there is no reason to doubt the capability of senior players like Kohli and Rohit. As the debate over the partnership of the two right-handers rages in the cricketing fraternity, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come up with a perfect solution.
Manjrekar feels that India may be playing a little different cricket in the latter stages of the World Cup and that is why we have not been able to win any major international tournaments in recent years. He said that the management should select the team based on the form of the players in the run-up to the World Cup.
"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," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
"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," he added.
We have got with great players, stature and experience: Manjrekar
The former middle-order batter feels that Kohli needs to prove that he can perform better than the youngsters to cement his place in the upcoming World Cup. Similarly, Rohit has to compete as a batter as well as against Hardik Pandya as captain. With both of them not picked for the series against South Africa, the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) will be crucial.
"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
"This should be the competition and you should only go with merit there because we have seen what we have got with great players, stature and experience," he added.