Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s T20I comeback ordered amid injury crisis in T20 World Cup 2026
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Former Indian selector has found Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's T20I retirements surprising when they have continued to play the format in the IPL. Sandeep Patil pointed this out amid the recent injury struggles and unavailability of batters for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
India have reported many of their players are suffering from concerns regarding health or are injured in some sense. They, hence, cannot rest assured of every player being available to be picked at times of need. Jasprit Bumrah missed the first game due to illness, and Abhishek is likely to be ruled out of the second due to the same reason.
Amid such calls, former Indian selector Sandeep Patil has called for the legendary duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who walked away willingly from the shortest format after having led India to a victory in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Sandeep Patil puzzled by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's T20I retirement
Former Indian selector Sandeep Patil expressed his surprise at the legendary India duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli calling it quits on their international T20 careers after the 2024 T20 World Cup, despite playing the IPL for their respective franchises.
Rohit Sharma was the skipper of the Indian team when they won the T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean and was also their highest run-scorer in the tournament. However, Virat Kohli finished as the player of the match in the final for his spectacular effort with the bat.
Talking to Mid Day, Sandeep Patil questioned the intent behind their absence for India while still featuring in the IPL, "It puzzles me. Two greats, two legends, retire from the T20 format, but they are available to play the Indian Premier League (IPL). I don’t understand… they could have played T20 cricket for India and figured in the IPL. That would be something we all would’ve accepted."
"He just doesn’t find a place in this team," said Sandeep Patil
After speaking of the two greats, he shifted focus to the rising superstar of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill. Gill, who has been made the most promising contender to snatch away the captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav after this World Cup ends, has not made it to the final T20 World Cup squad for the last two editions.
After being appointed the vice-captain and being backed for 15 games where he could not manage more than 291 runs with a strike rate of 137.26, Shubman Gill was dropped from the T20I squad of India.
"I feel sad for Gill, but he just doesn’t find a place in this team. Who are you going to drop? While discussing selection, we only talk about players, but we should also look at combinations," said Patil, who also had the same take on Shubman Gill's exclusion (via the aforementioned source).
Sanju Samson likely to play against Namibia, after Abhishek Sharma's unavailability
Abhishek Sharma has been India's constant in the shortest format of the game ever since his debut. The player, too, has been delivering without any failures. He played well in the Asia Cup and in the bilaterals against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
India have their upcoming fixture scheduled against Namibia, and Abhishek Sharma is doubtful for the game, as he has just been released from the hospital after being admitted with a stomach infection.
If he doesn't make it to the XI, India would have the likely option of Sanju Samson, who was out of touch during his recent stint for India against New Zealand, and Washington Sundar, who is also making a return from injury. Samson seems to have the upper hand at the top of the order over the all-rounder Sundar.
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