Indian batting superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are considering retiring from T20 internationals following the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
On Tuesday, April 30, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC tournament. Rohit Sharma will lead India in the tournament, with Virat Kohli playing a key role in the squad. This T20 World Cup could mark the final appearance for these veteran batsmen in T20 internationals.
It has to be noted that Virat and Rohit were missing from all of India’s T20I matches after the World Cup 2022 until their return for the Afghanistan series earlier this year. Team India suffered a heartbreaking defeat against England in the semifinal match in Adelaide during the World Cup 2022.
Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli To Take Retirement After T20 World Cup 2024
Talking about the numbers, Virat Kohli has been exceptional, scoring 1,141 runs from 25 innings at an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 131.30, with 14 half-centuries. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has scored 963 runs from 36 innings at an average of 34.39 and a strike rate of 127.89, including nine half-centuries.
Both Kohli and Rohit are among the leading run-scorers in T20Is. Kohli has accumulated 4,037 runs at an impressive average of 51.75, with one century and 37 fifties. On the other hand, Rohit has scored 3,974 runs at an average of 31.79, including five centuries and 29 half-centuries.
As per a report by Sports Tak, the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will likely be the final T20I appearance for Virat and Rohit. The marquee tournament will kickstart on June 1 in the West Indies and the USA.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh expressed his view that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should continue playing until they decide to retire. Singh suggested that the batters retire from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup. He said:
“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.
