Virat, Rohit should be in T20 World Cup team: Harbhajan Singh

South Africa are leading the T20I series 1-0 and the last of the three-match T20I series will be held today.

New Delhi: Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh said on Thursday that senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in West Indies and USA next year.

Rohit and Virat have not been part of India’s T20I team since last year’s 10-wicket loss to England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 semifinals in Australia in November. Youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, and Ruturaj Gaikwad are being tried out in their absence and prepared for the future.

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“I think both Virat (Kohli) and Rohit (Sharma) should be there in the World Cup…I think a good combination would be possible only when you have good senior players too with the youth. Virat and Rohit have a lot of mettle in them…I think they should play,” Harbhajan told ANI.

Statistically, Virat and Rohit are two of the best T20I batters. In 115 matches, Virat leads the run-scoring charts with 4,008 runs at an average of 52.73, with one century and 37 fifties. His best score is 122* and his strike rate is 137.96.

Rohit is the second-highest run scorer in the format, having scored 3,853 runs at an average of 31.32 and a strike rate of 139.24. His best score is 118. He has four centuries and 29 fifties in the format.

In the Caribbean, Virat has played 33 international games and scored 1,597 runs at an average of 49.90, with six centuries and seven fifties. His best score here is 200.Similarly, Rohit in this region has played 29 international matches, scoring 1,004 runs at an average of 50.20, with one century and nine fifties. His best score is 103.

On India playing a young team during the tour of South Africa for a white-ball leg of the series, Harbhajan Singh said that youngsters should be given time to learn since playing in South Africa is not easy, especially for bowlers. He also said that people get judgemental about teams on the basis of results too soon and it should change.

“This is a young team; I think we should give them some time. We are very result-oriented, and our team is good only if they give results. That is not the case. I think that if we give them time, they will obviously learn. We will have to change ourselves a little as we judge teams on results too quickly..Results take time. This team is in the process. South Africa is not an easy place to play, especially for bowlers,” said the former spinner.

South Africa are leading the T20I series 1-0 and the last of the three-match T20I series will be held today.

On India losing the ICC Cricket World Cup final to Australia in November, Harbhajan said that Australia played better than India in the match.

“India lost the World Cup final because they did not play well. Australia played better and played boldly. We succumbed to the pressure after losing the third wicket. We could have scored 280-290 runs. A lot of blame is being placed on pitch, dew and conditions, but we must accept that we did not play well under pressure,” said Harbhajan.

On Khelo India Para Games in Delhi, Harbhajan congratulated all the athletes playing and said that the event was a wonderful opportunity for them.

“Congratulations to all the para-athletes who participated and got involved in Khelo India…This is a platform where athletes get an opportunity to showcase their talent. Para athletes won more than 100 medals recently (At the Para Asian Games). It is a big thing and I am hopeful that the medal tally will increase in the days to come…,” he said.