NEW DELHI:
Rohit Sharma
and
Virat Kohli
, known as the dynamic duo of Indian cricket, are gearing up for what could be their final World Cup appearance, aiming to end the nation's global title drought. The last major triumph for India came in the 2013 Champions Trophy, and the pair, aged 37 and 35 respectively, have been the torchbearers of the country's cricketing hopes for years.
India's heartbreaking loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup final last year at the Ahmedabad stadium has only fueled their determination.
Also see: India T20 World Cup squad: List of players, match date, time and venue
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif believes that this
T20 World Cup
, commencing on June 1 in the West Indies and United States, might be the last chance for Rohit and Kohli to lift a trophy from a major white-ball tournament.
"Rohit Sharma knows he isn't going to play for too long now. Just two to three years more. Same with Virat Kohli," Kaif remarked on Star Sports. "So this is the last chance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They lost the World Cup final in Ahmedabad. They played as if they had the cup snatched away from them. Hearts were broken and fans were devastated."
The IPL season leading up to the World Cup saw contrasting performances from the veterans. While Kohli dominated the batting charts with 741 runs for
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
, forming a formidable opening partnership with Faf du Plessis, Rohit's Mumbai Indians struggled, and he had a patchy tournament with 417 runs, including a 61-ball century against Chennai Super Kings.
Ajay Jadeja, another former India batsman, believes Kohli should open for India in the World Cup, stating, "For me, Virat Kohli opens. If you have Virat in your side, you know consistency is the one thing you will get, so, might as well use him. He's the best at the top and the powerplay allows him to settle in."
Both Rohit and Kohli have been part of India's past World Cup successes. Rohit was a member of the team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, defeating Pakistan in the final, while Kohli was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad, famously carrying Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders during the victory lap.
However, the pressure to deliver a title has been mounting on the duo in recent years. Kohli stepped down as T20 captain in 2021 and was removed as ODI skipper the same year without securing a World Cup trophy. Rohit, despite his success in the IPL with Mumbai Indians, has also been unable to lead India to a World Cup victory.
In the upcoming T20 World Cup, India are placed in a group alongside Pakistan, Canada, the United States, and Ireland. Kaif believes that India have a clear path to the knockout stages, stating, "India hardly have competition in the group stage. There are only two main matches – the semi-final and the final. Are you ready for those two days? That's the biggest test for Rohit Sharma."
(Inputs from AFP)
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