Rohit Sharma backed as ‘World Cup asset’ amid BCCI uncertainty; Virat Kohli’s ‘absolute hunger’ highlighted
with Audi World Cup Just one year later, questions remain Rohit SharmaHis place in the India squad. The selectors are yet to make a final decision, with several reports in recent months suggesting that the committee is not entirely convinced to include the veteran in the World Cup plans. But Rohit did not give them enough reason to doubt his form. In his last appearance on India’s tour of England, he delivered a brilliant century to silence the chatter surrounding his future, at least for the time being. But uncertainty has resurfaced, with BCCI now set to discuss its future at a review meeting in Mumbai on Thursday. Head coach Gautam Gambhir And the main chosen one Ajit Agarkar He will be among those present at the meeting, where India’s recent performances, players’ fitness and the team’s plans for the upcoming World Cup are expected to be discussed.
While Rohit’s recent form may not give the selectors much reason to worry, his greater value could come from something that cannot be measured solely by runs or performances. Former South Africa legend Jonty Rhodes believes India should take into account the veteran’s experience in the World Cup opener when deciding on his future, citing the mental demands of playing in a high-pressure tournament.
“You have to remember that having World Cup experience is another factor that we don’t take into consideration. We look at the talent of the players, the ability that they have and their performance. They may have been hit hard and had a good season. But when it comes to pressure moments, the World Cup is very high pressure,” Rhodes told JioStar.
“Players can take care of themselves physically, but mental toughness is something we don’t often take into consideration when it comes to selection. But as someone who has played in four Cricket World Cups without going beyond the semi-finals, I know how stressful it can get. So having someone like Rohit Sharma in your team is a huge advantage in a World Cup,” he added.
Virat Kohli praised ‘absolute hunger to win’
Virat Kohli is another prominent figure in the team, but unlike Rohit, there is not much debate about his place in the team given his status as a golden ODI player. The batting maestro has shown impressive form in the Indian Premier League this year and carried that momentum into the ODI series against England. His experience and consistency at number three will be invaluable for India, especially in a high-pressure tournament like the World Cup.
While Kohli’s numbers and experience make him an obvious choice for India’s World Cup plans, Rhodes believes his constant desire to win is what sets him apart. The former South Africa star drew parallels with Australia’s winning mentality and highlighted Kohli’s aggression, competitiveness and ability to take responsibility in pressure situations.
“We’ve watched Australia win a lot of World Cups and we’ve seen their aggression and almost their expectation to win. And I think that’s what Virat was. He had this absolute hunger to win matches for his team,” he said.
“When you’re a captain and captain of a team, and you can always be the best chaser in the world, it shows how determined you are to be the guy who takes the team over the line. When he’s chasing goals over a long period of time, he was the final scorer of the match for India. From that perspective, he feeds off that aggression. He doesn’t mind when he bats. A lot of players don’t want to lose their focus. If he’s batting, he’ll falter. He’s definitely someone who loves to compete, loves to fight, and has a huge drive to win,” he added. “With the matches going for India, whether he is captain or not, he will still have that drive.”
