Cricket fans and pundits have shifted their focus from the recently-concluded 50-over World Cup to the next significant event on the cricket calendar – the T20 World Cup in 2024, set to take place in the picturesque locales of the West Indies and the United States. As anticipation builds, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the participation of two of India’s biggest cricketing stars, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in the T20 arena.
Despite their significant contributions during the 50-over World Cup, where both players turned in performances reminiscent of their best days, the Indian cricket community has been buzzing with debate over whether these stalwarts will don the blue jersey in the game’s shortest international format moving forward.
Shoaib Akhtar, the renowned former Pakistani speedster known for his incisive commentary on the game, has recently weighed in on the ongoing conversation. Akhtar, with his characteristic directness, expressed unambiguous support for the Indian duo, affirming their cricketing acumen and value to the national team. “If you ask, do Rohit and Kohli have cricket left in them? Yes, definitely. Do you get a better opener than Rohit in the world right now? No, you don’t,” he emphatically stated during an interaction with Zee News.
The dynamic duo, Rohit and Kohli, have not been seen in the T20I format since India’s loss to England in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup held in 2022 at Adelaide. In their absence, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has taken on the mantle of leading the Indian side through various bilateral series, showcasing his leadership skills and lending a fresh dynamic to the squad.
Akhtar, envisioning the future blueprint for the Indian cricket team, signaled his expectations so Hardik would helm the team during the forthcoming T20 World Cup. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that seasoned cricketers like Sharma and Kohli are accorded a respectful route akin to the honor bestowed upon Sachin Tendulkar during the 2011 World Cup, under then-captain MS Dhoni’s thoughtful leadership.
“They deserve this respect. I’m maybe putting pressure on Hardik Pandya through this, but he needs to give that respect to Rohit and Kohli. He is in the team because of them. The kind of favours he has got in the team from them should be repaid. And they are legends of Indian cricket, so they should be given due respect before they are let go,” voiced Akhtar, stressing the importance of recognizing the monumental contributions both players have made to Indian cricket.
The debate around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s places in the fast-paced T20 format is more than a consideration of form or fitness; it is about the evolution of cricketing eras, the phasing of generational talent, and the continuation of the age-old tradition where the old guard makes way for the new while ensuring the legacy endures.
As fans around the world continue to engage in passionate discourse, the opine of stars like Shoaib Akhtar holds significant sway in shaping public opinion and, possibly, the decisions of those who manage the game. With the T20 World Cup on the distant horizon, only time will unveil how the Indian team management will navigate these decisions, whether legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will blaze their signature trail in the T20 World Cup of 2024, and if Hardik Pandya will indeed get the chance to shape the respectful departure of two of the modern greats of Indian cricket.