‘Once You’ve Picked Them for the Series, It Means They’re Going for T20 World Cup’: Ex-IND Keeper on Rohit, Kohli

There is no doubting that Rohit Sharma’s misery upon his return to T20Is continues to persist despite the team’s success, as the Indian skipper, who was playing against Afghanistan, in what is his 150th T20I, was forced to walk back to the pavilion for yet another duck.

But, former Indian batter Parthiv Patel believes that the recent run of form will not have any effect on squad selections within the Men in Blue for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20I World Cup, set to happen in the Americas.

“I don’t see this series as a selection series for the World Cup. I don’t think any player, performing or not, will impact their chances of World Cup selection, especially when you are talking about Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. Once you have picked them for the series, it means they are going for the World Cup,” reinstated Parthiv Patel.

Despite what he may say, it is undeniable that the Indian captain will be feeling some pressure to get off the mark in the third T20I today, even if for nothing else but to put the doubt in his own mind to sleep yet again.

It has now been two T20I innings in a row for the Indian skipper where he has had to return to the dressing room for a measly duck, after returning to the format following a gap of 14 months. Before the first T20I of the current Afghanistan series, the last he played for India in the shortest format was the semifinal of the 2022 T20 World Cup where they suffered a defeat to England.

And with the final match-up against Afghanistan slated to be the last T20I match the Indian side will partake in, it will be expected that Rohit will come out guns swinging, to do what he does best: set the tone and attack.

“Rohit Sharma personally would like to score runs. He likes to set the tone and if he gets in, he would like to make it a big one,” said Parthiv Patel about what he expects from the Indian opener in the upcoming T20I.

Having dominated the first two games, India will eye a clean sweep of Afghanistan.

The third T20I between India and Afghanistan will be held today, January 17, with Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium hosting the contest from 7 PM IST onwards.