Gavaskar’s verdict on Rohit, Kohli’s T20I future amid BCCI’s continued silence | Cricket

The continued absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20I cricket has made fans and pundits question their future in the format. After the T20 World Cup last November, both have missed the two T20I series that India played in New Zealand against Sri Lanka. They have not been in India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand series, which starts later this month. Amid BCCI’s continued silence on the matter, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has given his verdict on the future of two batsmen in T20I cricket.

A PTI report before the squad was announced for the Sri Lanka series at home last month stated that the selectors were looking for specialist options and thus players like Kohli might be rested. Although no official statement has been made by the selectors or the board, the trend certainly seems to be going in that direction.

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Kohli and Rohit both missing the New Zealand series after the T20 World Cup was understandable as part of workload management as a few other players had also been rested. But Kohli missed one against Sri Lanka and has not been named for the New Zealand series. Rohit missed the T20I against Dasun Shanaka’s men due to an injury sustained in the ODI series in Bangladesh last month and will not be included in the New Zealand contest either.

India are scheduled to play just two more T20Is, one in July-August against the West Indies and the other after the ODI World Cup, leading to questions about the future of Kohli and Rohit given their ages.

Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar opined that the new selection committee wants to give more opportunities to new players and has therefore rested Kohli and Rohit, who also need time out from this game to freshen up for the Australia series starting on February 9. .

The way I see it is that the next T20 World Cup is in 2024, next year, and the new selection committee that has come in wants to give more opportunities to younger players. That doesn’t mean Kohli and Rohit are no longer considered. And if they have impressive form through 2023, they need to be in the squad. Another factor is when the Australia series starts and the selectors might have wanted to rest them for the big contest so that they can make a fresh start against the Australians, which will benefit India, he said.