Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar found themselves in disagreement over the T20I future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, particularly regarding their inclusion in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad. The uncertainty looms over whether these stalwarts will make a comeback to T20I cricket, as India gears up for the T20 World Cup in June 2024 following a triumphant 4-1 series win against Australia.
While India is eager to end its ICC trophy drought, the extended break taken by Rohit and Kohli has sparked discussions. Sanjay Manjrekar expressed the view that their return to T20I cricket should be contingent on their form in the format, emphasizing that they need to prove themselves against the emerging young talents. According to Manjrekar, the team selection should be based on the players’ recent form close to the World Cup, with Kohli competing against the current young batters and Rohit facing competition from Hardik Pandya.
Contrarily, Irfan Pathan advocated for a team composition that blends experience with youth. Drawing on the example of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team under MS Dhoni, Pathan dispelled the myth that it was an inexperienced side that lifted the trophy. He highlighted the presence of senior players like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, and Harbhajan Singh, emphasizing the need to combine experience with youth, especially in challenging batting conditions.
The debate concluded with Manjrekar recalling the 2007 final, highlighting the role of Joginder Sharma in securing the victory for India. As Kohli and Rohit remain absent from the South Africa T20I series, their future in the T20 format is yet to be discussed with the BCCI.
