Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has weighed in on the much-talked about topic of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s T20I careers. The way things have panned out in recent times, many believe that the duo’s celebrated careers in the shortest format of the game is as good as over.
Rohit and Kohli have not played a T20I for Team India since the loss in the semifinal of last year’s T20 World Cup. In 2023, India have played 6 T20Is without the senior batsmen. With Rohit out of the team, Hardik Pandya has been given the responsibility to lead the team and he has done a fine job so far.
With neither Kohli nor Rohit getting any younger and the next T20 World Cup well over a year away, several sections believe that the legendary batsmen are unlikely to represent India in T20Is again.
Wasim Jaffer on Rohit and Kohli’s T20I careers:
Just like many, Wasim Jaffer also believes that Rohit may have already played his final T20 World Cup. Speaking to former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali on YouTube, Wasim Jaffer said that the format is for youngsters and he doesn’t see the India skipper being a part of proceedings during the next T20 World Cup. He, however, stated that Kohli might go on to play in the marquee event.
“Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were rested (from the T20Is against Sri Lanka and New Zealand) seeing the bigger picture, with the Tests against Australia coming up, then there’s IPL and then the ODI World Cup.
“India can qualify for the World Test Championship final. And rightly so. Looking at the future, this game is for youngsters. I don’t see Rohit Sharma playing in the next T20 World Cup, from a personal perspective. Virat Kohli may play, but Rohit Sharma definitely won’t play the next edition. He’s already 36 I think,” said Wasim Jaffer.
“So, looking at the bigger picture, it’s important that they are mentally fresh and ready for the Australia series,” he added.
Wasim Jaffer further spoke about the impact Rohit and Kohli’s absence would cause on the Indian T20I team. He was asked if the young talent in the Indian side would need Rohit and Kohli for guidance. The former opener, however, believes that youngsters won’t miss the duo much.
“I don’t think they need a guiding force. They have played so much of cricket in the IPL, that they don’t need someone to guide them in the middle,” said Jaffer.
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