The is a little over a year away and the question that is in the minds of Indian cricket fans is the availability of and Virat Kohli . ‘Hitman’ is 39 and has been around for 19 years.
This means when the World Cup takes place, he will be 40 and will be playing for 20 years. ‘King’ turns 38 this year and has been there for 18 years. If he is there at the World Cup, he will be turning 39 and his career will span 19 years.
Under the Scanner
Age is not on their side, and it’s a race against time for the two modern greats to prove they deserve to be in the World Cup squad. But having to play every series under a scanner is something that may not be healthy for them or the team’s culture.
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The Need for Clarity
Clarity is the name of the game. Give Rohit or Kohli the assurance that they will be there for the World Cup and they can go about their business without extra pressure. Both have been in good form in recent days and are fit like never before. So, form and fitness is not an issue and the wealth of experience they bring to the table is second to none.
Make Mission World Cup Clearer
Their bats have done enough talking. In the last 12 to 15 months, both these players have proved they belong in the side for as long as possible. The least the BCCI or the team management can do is say that the World Cup is a done deal and they can play with ease. It will not only boost performance but expect Rohit and Kohli to raise the bar like never before. After all, their mission will be clear.
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Dream Exit Loading?
One must remember that an ODI retirement is an international farewell because both Rohit and Kohli have retired from Tests and T20Is. That means when they exit the ODI scene, international cricket shall have seen the last of them. It will happen one day and when it does, the game will be poorer for it. Winning the ODI World Cup and calling time will be the dream exit for these modern legends.
Can the Legends End on a High?
Kohli knows the joy of winning the ODI World Cup as he was part of the side under MS Dhoni that won the title in 2011. Rohit was not in the squad and in 2023, he led them to the final but lost. So, he has no clue how it feels. What better way to end one’s career in that case? It remains to be seen if the dream farewell happens. If so, it will be the best ending in cricket history.