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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain key players aiming for the 2027 World Cup, with Madan Lal supporting their autonomy over retirement decisions and praising their current form.
Virat Kohli (left) and Rohit Sharma during their match-winning partnership. (AP Photo)
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma still exhibit strong capabilities as batters, and former India cricketer and selector Madan Lal believes they should decide on their future themselves. Despite retiring from T20Is and Test cricket, Kohli and Rohit remain active in ODIs and aim to participate in the 2027 World Cup.
Recently, there have been no concerns regarding their fitness and form. Both players played key roles in India’s victories in the last two ODIs against Australia and South Africa.
“It is their decision and not anybody else’s. So (it should be) whatever they decide,” Lal was quoted as saying to PTI Videos during the Asian Legends League Season 2. “But the way they are playing the ODI series, shows that they are still very, very fresh and look like they are some 28 or 30-years-old. The way Virat Kohli is running (between the wickets while) taking the singles and hitting the balls. It’s nice to see (the way they are going),” he added.
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Lal, who was a selector when Sachin Tendulkar was appointed India captain, acknowledged that coaches and selectors are often criticised when the team performs poorly. “The first person to be criticised is the coach and the selector, I have been both, so they will get the criticism, never mind. As long as your conscience is right, that matters,” he said. “If the team is not doing good then it becomes a case of (critics) going after the selectors. But if the team is not doing well then it is also a calculative thing that your coach is as good as your team.”
Tendulkar had mixed results as captain, with India losing nine out of 25 Tests and winning four, and losing 43 out of 73 ODIs while winning 23. “But you do make mistakes. I, as a coach, when Sachin was… I have made mistakes and they are part of the game,” Lal concluded.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket cont…Read More
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