Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will look to finish India’s international title drought because the star duo step out for what’s more likely to be their last World Cup look. Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 35, have lengthy been the dual torchbearers for the hopes of their cricket-mad nation, which final noticed a significant title triumph within the 2013 Champions Trophy. India made the ultimate of final yr’s ODI World Cup at house however misplaced to Australia in entrance of a crestfallen packed home on the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
The T20 World Cup, beginning June 1 within the West Indies and United States, stands out as the final likelihood each males need to hoist a trophy from one of many showpiece white-ball tournaments.
“Rohit Sharma is aware of he is not going to play for too lengthy now. Simply two to 3 years extra. Similar with Virat Kohli,” former India batsman Mohammad Kaif stated on Star Sports activities.
“So that is the final likelihood for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
“They misplaced the World Cup last in Ahmedabad. They performed as if that they had the cup snatched away from them. Hearts have been damaged and followers have been devastated.”
The subsequent T20 World Cup shall be in in two years’ time adopted by the 50-over event in 2027.
The veterans will mix for India after a contrasting IPL season the place Kohli dominated as a one-man run machine and Rohit’s group floundered.
Kohli topped the batting charts with 741 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, forming an exhilarating opening partnership with the skipper Faf du Plessis.
Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja stated Kohli had made his case to open for his aspect on the World Cup.
“For me, Virat Kohli opens,” Jadeja instructed Jio Cinema.
“When you’ve got Virat in your aspect, you already know consistency is the one factor you’ll get, so, may as nicely use him. He is the perfect on the prime and the powerplay permits him to settle in.”
Rohit was changed as captain of Mumbai Indians by Hardik Pandya for this yr’s season and had a patchy event, ending with 417 runs which included a 61-ball century in opposition to Chennai Tremendous Kings.
Rohit, nicknamed “Hitman” for his attacking play and big-scoring, signed off in his final league match of the yr with a 28-ball fifty however his earlier seven innings had produced simply 88 runs.
‘Largest take a look at’
Each males have been a part of India’s previous World Cup glories.
Rohit was a part of the group’s victory within the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 when India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan within the last at Johannesburg.
India’s final World Cup win got here in 2011 when a younger Kohli carried cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders throughout their victory lap of the sector.
Each males have confronted stress to ship their aspect a title within the years since, however Kohli stepped down as T20 captain in 2021 and was then eliminated as ODI skipper in the identical yr with out delivering.
Rohit, who led Mumbai to 5 IPL titles, picked up the baton however a World Cup trophy has confirmed elusive below his management as nicely.
On this yr’s T20 World Cup India face Pakistan, Canada, america and Eire within the group part of the event, with Kaif saying the group had a transparent run to the knockout matches.
“India hardly have competitors within the group stage. There are solely two principal matches — the semi-final and the ultimate,” he stated.
“Are you prepared for these two days? That is the most important take a look at for Rohit Sharma.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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