NEW DELHI: India's T20I series against Afghanistan marked the return of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the format after more than a year, indicating their aspirations to be part of the squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.
While Rohit Sharma redeemed himself with a century in the third T20I, Virat Kohli showcased commendable intent despite scoring fewer runs, leaving an impression on the skipper.
In a post-match chat with Jio Cinema, Rohit emphasized the importance of clarity in player roles and expressed satisfaction with Kohli's aggressive intent, even though he faced an early dismissal. Rohit also acknowledged Sanju Samson's intent.
"We only need to give the players clarity about their position and the manner of cricket we want them to play with. The boys know what to expect when they come out onto the ground. As you saw, Kohli tried to go hard from the word go, he normally does not do that, but he showed the intent. Same with Samson, he was out first ball, but the intent was there," Rohit said.
Reflecting on the upcoming T20 World Cup, Rohit mentioned that while the squad is not finalized, there's a clear understanding of about 10 players who will likely be part of the side in the tournament to be held in the Americas.
He acknowledged the challenge of leaving out promising players but emphasized the need for clarity and focus on the team's requirements.
"In the pool of 25-30 players we have, they know what is expected of each player. We have still not finalized the squad for the T20 World Cup, but obviously in the mind, you know the 8-10 players who are going to play," Rohit said.
Considering the conditions in the Caribbean, where a significant portion of the tournament will be played, Rohit emphasized the importance of picking the squad accordingly, recognizing the slower nature of pitches. He reiterated the challenge of maintaining team clarity and prioritizing the team's needs in the squad selection process.
(With inputs from Agencies)
