Ashish Nehra, former Indian pacer, has expressed his thoughts on the uncertainty surrounding the T20I future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The discussion around Team India’s squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa has been ongoing, especially after reports emerged that Rohit and Kohli would miss the white-ball leg of the tour. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed earlier this week that both star batters would return to the team for the two-match Test series starting on December 26.
With Rohit being rested and vice-captain Hardik Pandya out due to injury, KL Rahul will lead the team in the 50-over format, while Suryakumar Yadav will have his first experience of captaining the Indian side away from home, following his successful leadership in the T20I series win against Australia.
Speaking about Hardik’s injury, Nehra believes that his absence has created a tricky situation for the team. He stated, “I don’t know about captaincy, there is still time. It is a tricky one for the selectors also. Hardik Pandya also got injured and it will be interesting to see when he comes back into the Indian side. If Hardik Pandya plays straight in the IPL, it will be difficult for any selection committee,” Nehra said on Jio Cinema.
Nehra also commented on the uncertainty surrounding Rohit and Kohli’s T20I future. As the head coach of the Gujarat Titans, he feels that both players can make a return to the T20I side if they wish to do so. “Somebody like Rohit Sharma. Somebody like Virat Kohli. If they are fit, we do not need to discuss their form. Definitely, they will be there in the Caribbean and USA,” he added.
It has been reported that Rohit and Kohli’s requests for a break from white-ball cricket in South Africa have been accepted by the BCCI. Furthermore, the news agency PTI has reported that Hardik is no longer an automatic choice for T20 captaincy in the T20 World Cup next year if Rohit decides to play the shortest format. “Rohit has been offered T20 captaincy, but he is in the UK on holiday and wants an extended break after four months of a grueling season till the end of the World Cup. But as captain, he has the highest respect for the dressing room, and if he agrees to lead India in the T20 World Cup, he will lead,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds and whether Rohit and Kohli will make their return to the T20I side in the future.
