’20-year-olds will understand Rohit, Kohli are needed’: AB de Villiers digs the grave again as India duo makes T20I return
On January 11, Team India will play its first T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins on Thursday. With the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup, two of the team’s most well-known batting mainstays, skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, make their T20I squad comebacks for the first time. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have been rested, while Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are still out with injury.
There were a lot of rumours about the two coming back, especially because they hadn’t been in the format and a lot of young people had come on during the last year. But because of the BCCI’s belief in Rohit and Kohli, the two batting titans are definitely being considered for places in this year’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in the USA and the West Indies. Former South Africa opener AB de Villiers also discussed the inclusion of the Indian hitters in great length before of the first game of the series, saying that although he can “understand” the criticism of their comeback, Rohit and Kohli are still crucial to India’s chances at the World Cup.
“I understand (criticism on the selection of Rohit and Kohli), but at the end of the day, it is a cricket World Cup. If Virat Kohli is good enough, he has to play. I don’t care whether he is managing his career due to age. 20-year-olds will understand that the likes of Rohit and Virat are needed to help India win the T20 World Cup. I wish I had that management when I was 35,” de Villiers said on his official YouTube channel.
“I think India have shown their intent by adding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to their T20I squad. They’re clearly thinking about the T20 World Cup,” said the former South Africa batter further.
Even with their comeback, the Indian Premier League season of this year is anticipated to be crucial in deciding the team that would represent the country in the T20 World Cup which will be held in June. With 639 runs in 14 games, Kohli was the fourth-highest run scorer in the IPL last season, but Rohit had a very bad year. The Mumbai Indians batsman averaged 20.75 and only managed 332 runs in 16 games.
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