Will Ro-Ko play next World Cup? Why discuss the future, asks India’s batting coach
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showed why they are still important for Team India in ODIs with brilliant performances against South Africa in Ranchi.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showed why they are still important for Team India in ODIs with brilliant performances against South Africa in Ranchi.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showed why they are still important for Team India in ODIs with brilliant performances against South Africa in Ranchi.
Virat Kohli will be 39 when the next ODI World Cup is played in Africa. But will the batting icon still be in the management's plans? India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has said such speculations should not exist.
"He's batting so well. Why do we need to talk about his future? The way he's performing, the way his fitness is, there are no questions about anything," Kotak said Monday.
The response comes a day after Kohli hit his 52nd ODI century (135 off 120) to inspire India to a 17-run win over South Africa in Ranchi. "He's just brilliant, man. As long as he keeps batting like this, there is no point talking about anything else," Kotak said.
Another OG, whose future in the team is questioned whenever he struggles, is Rohit Sharma. While Kohli stole the limelight, Rohit scored 57 and held a valuable 136-run partnership with the centurion. Given that Rohit and Kohli have retired from other forms of international cricket, it is unclear whether the BCCI will be patient with the two stalwarts. Rohit will be 40 during the next World Cup.
Kotak did not specify if the Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff consider the veteran duo undroppable, but he hailed them for playing a vital part in the victory.
"They are such experienced players. The way they bat, the partnerships they build, like today (Sunday), make a huge difference. They share their experience with the younger players, and that itself is a big advantage," Kotak said.