Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to make what is likely their final World Cup appearance, aiming to end India's global title drought.
The T20 World Cup, starting June 1 in the West Indies and United States, offers the star duo their last opportunity to hoist a trophy in a major white-ball tournament.
Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 35, have long carried the hopes of their cricket-mad nation, which last celebrated a major title in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Despite making the final of last year's ODI World Cup at home, India lost to Australia in front of a heartbroken crowd at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif highlighted the urgency of the situation on Star Sports: "This is the last chance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They played as if they had the cup snatched away from them in the last World Cup. Hearts were broken, and fans were devastated."
Both veterans come into the tournament after contrasting IPL seasons. Kohli dominated the batting charts with 741 runs for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while Rohit had a patchy season with 417 runs for the Mumbai Indians. Despite this, their combined experience and past World Cup glories are crucial for India. Rohit was part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup team, and Kohli was instrumental in the 2011 World Cup win.
Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja believes Kohli should open for India at the World Cup, citing his consistency and prowess in the powerplay. "For me, Virat Kohli opens. If you have Virat by your side, you know consistency is the one thing you will get," Jadeja told Jio Cinema.
India faces Pakistan, Canada, the United States, and Ireland in the group stage, with Kaif asserting that the real challenge lies in the knockout matches. "India hardly has competition in the group stage. The semi-final and the final are the biggest tests for Rohit Sharma," he said.
As Rohit and Kohli step onto the field, the weight of expectation from millions of fans will be immense. This T20 World Cup might be their final shot at cementing their legacies and delivering a long-awaited global title for India.
