T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to retire from international cricket after...
Published - 01 May 2024, 11:39 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:11 AM
Veteran Indian batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have reportedly made decisions regarding their future with the Indian national cricket team in the T20I format. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may consider retiring from T20 internationals following the conclusion of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
On Tuesday, April 30, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the 15-member squad for the ICC tournament. Rohit Sharma will lead India in the tournament, while Virat Kohli will be a crucial player in the squad. The World Cup may serve as the last T20I appearance for the veteran batting duo.
According to a report by Sports Tak, the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024 will be the final appearance for Kohli and Rohit in the T20I format. The World Cup will be played in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) from June 1 to June 29.
Kohli and Rohit were absent from all of India's T20I games after the 2022 World Cup until their return for the Afghanistan series earlier this year. The Men in Blue suffered a heartbreaking loss against England in the semifinal in Adelaide. The batting duo played one T20I series before the World Cup.
Kohli has been exceptional in the T20 World Cups, scoring 1,141 runs from 25 innings at an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 131.30, including 14 half-centuries. Meanwhile, Rohit has scored 963 runs from 36 innings at an average of 34.39 and a strike rate of 127.89, with nine half-centuries.
Both Kohli and Rohit are the leading run-scorers in T20Is. The former RCB captain has amassed 4,037 runs at an average of 51.75, with one century and 37 fifties. Meanwhile, the veteran Indian opener has amassed 3,974 runs at an average of 31.79, including five centuries and 29 half-centuries.
Would Like To See More Younger Players In The T20 Format - Yuvraj Singh
Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should continue playing until they decide to retire. Singh suggested the batters retire from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup.
"As you get older people start talking about your age and they forget about your form. These guys have been great players for India and they deserve to go (retire) when they want," said Yuvraj.
"I would like to see more younger players in the T20 format, because it gets the load off them (experienced players) playing 50-over (ODIs) and Test matches. After this (T20) World Cup I would like to see a lot of younger guys come into the team and make the T20 side for the next World Cup," he added.
Team India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the United States in the upcoming tournament. They are expected to advance to the Super 8 phase after the group stages. If they reach the last four, the semifinals and the final will take place in the last week of June.
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