Star India cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have not played a single T20I ever since India made an exit from the semi-final stage of the T20 World Cup held in Australia last year. While there were reports suggesting that the selectors and the team management may look at the youngsters for the shortest format of the game overlooking even KL Rahul from the shortest format of the game, the recent squad picked for West Indies T20I gives a hint that this could well be the way India plays T20 cricket heading into the World Cup next year.
However, former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly belives that the likes of Kohli and Rohit could still be part of the T20I squad. He reckons that the selectors should be looking to select the best team irrespective of whether that includes experienced or young players. He even cited the example of Kohli's form in the IPL and said that if he can play like that there is no reason why he or Rohit cannot be picked.
"Pick your best players; it doesn’t matter who they are. In my opinion, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma still have a place in T20I cricket, and I cannot see why a Kohli or a Rohit cannot play T20I cricket. Kohli was in great form in the IPL, and both have a place in T20 cricket, if you ask me," Ganguly was quoted as saying by RevSportz.
Ganguly also opined on youngsters Jitesh Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rinku Singh missing out from India's squad for the West Indies T20Is. He said that if they keep on performing it is only a matter of time before they gets their chances.
"They just have to keep playing. They will have to keep performing in whatever chances they get. It happens all the time. Only 15 can be picked in the squad, and 11 can play. So, somebody has to miss out. I am pretty sure their time will come," the former India skipper said.