Sri Lanka cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan has expressed his belief that Indian captain Rohit Sharma could participate in another World Cup. Despite being 36 years old, Rohit will be a year older by the time the next World Cup takes place in June 2024. The tournament is set to be hosted by the USA and the West Indies. Muralitharan is confident that Rohit will be part of the Indian squad for the event if he dedicates himself to improving his fitness, just like his teammate Virat Kohli. The former spinner also suggested that Rohit must already be contemplating playing in the World Cup next year.
Muralitharan praised Rohit’s performance in previous ODI World Cups, highlighting his consistent starts and impressive strike rates. He emphasized that Rohit’s age of 36 is still relatively young, indicating that he has the potential to compete in another World Cup if he focuses on his fitness similar to Kohli. Muralitharan shared these thoughts during an interview with JioCinema.
Rohit has demonstrated a strike rate of 130 in ODIs, which Muralitharan believes is commendable for T20 cricket. As an experienced player, Muralitharan suggests that Rohit needs to prioritize his fitness after turning 35. If Rohit maintains the desire to play, Muralitharan firmly believes that he will participate in another World Cup, stating that it is already on Rohit’s mind.
It is important to note that Rohit has not played any T20I matches for India since their defeat against England in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in 2022. While the Indian cricket team is focused on including young players in the T20I squad, Rohit’s exceptional form in ODI cricket has kept him in strong contention for the T20 mega event in 2024.
Overall, Muralitharan’s endorsement adds weight to the possibility of Rohit Sharma competing in another World Cup, provided he maintains his fitness and continues to deliver outstanding performances.
