NEW DELHI: The return of seasoned campaigners Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan has generated significant buzz, with former India chief selector MSK Prasad expressing his support for their comeback and predicting their role in the forthcoming T20 World Cup scheduled for June 1-29 in the USA and West Indies.
Speaking to Star Sports, Prasad acknowledged the importance of the rest given to Rohit and Virat after the South Africa tour, emphasizing, "I do understand that Rohit and Virat were given a bit of rest after the South Africa tour. I think that was needed after a mega event like the ODI World Cup. They needed that kind of a break."
Prasad expressed unwavering confidence in the duo's participation in the T20 World Cup, stating, "There's absolutely no doubt that Virat and Rohit will be a part of the T20 World Cup, so they should start playing right from this series."
Highlighting the strategic decision behind their absence from the T20I format for over a year, Prasad explained, "The reason they didn't play is we were heading towards an ODI World Cup, so we predominantly wanted to focus on ODIs. That's the reason they offered other youngsters who were maybe thinking towards the T20 World Cup."
As India's T20I series against Afghanistan approaches, Prasad stressed the significance of fielding the best possible team, considering the competitiveness of the Afghan side and the limited opportunities left before the T20 World Cup. He voiced his preference for the experienced duo's inclusion, stating, "I would definitely prefer to have the best possible team."
Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, Prasad anticipates challenges for the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar. He highlighted critical decisions regarding players like Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, and Ishan Kishan, emphasizing the decisive role of IPL form in shaping the final squad.
In conclusion, Prasad welcomed the complexity of selection decisions, stating, "So it's important they keep ringing the bell so the selectors have a good headache."
India's T20I series against Afghanistan, commencing on January 11, marks the final international series before the much-anticipated T20 World Cup.
(With inputs from IANS)
