Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has suggested that the Indian team should open with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Ganguly’s comments come amidst discussions about Kohli’s strike rate and his role in the team.
Ganguly expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability, stating that the RCB captain has the potential to score a century off just 40 balls. Despite concerns about Kohli’s strike rate in the IPL 2024, where he has been the tournament’s leading run-scorer, Ganguly believes Kohli’s skill and experience make him a valuable asset in the T20 format.
“I think Virat should open with Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup. Virat can score a 40-ball 100. I have seen him do it for RCB,” Ganguly said.
The former BCCI president’s comments align with recent speculations about India’s T20 World Cup squad. Reports suggest that the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is considering Kohli as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma. However, Rohit Sharma has dismissed these claims as “fake news,” emphasizing that the final decision rests with the selection panel.
“We haven’t met so far, we haven’t decided who’ll open at the World Cup (on Virat Kohli’s question). In today’s age, until and unless you don’t hear from me, Rahul bhai or Ajit bhai, everything else is fake,” Rohit Sharma said while speaking at cricket podcast Club Prairie Fire.
The BCCI is reportedly focusing on selecting a squad based on consistency and performance in T20 Internationals and the IPL. This approach indicates that established players like Kohli, Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav are likely to be automatic selections.
The final squad announcement is expected to be made after a meeting between Rohit Sharma and the selection panel following the DC vs MI IPL 2024 match on April 27. With the ICC setting May 1 as the deadline for squad submissions, the Indian team management aims to finalize their strategy and squad well in advance of the tournament.
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