The Board of Control for Cricket in India selectors have identified the future set of players in T20I cricket when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli hang up their boots. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma emerged in the phase when the seasoned campaigners were away from the format.
The return of Sharma and Kohli to T20Is in the ongoing series against Afghanistan — the last assignment before the T20 World Cup in June — sparked a debate. There were concerns regarding the decision to fall back on old guards after nurturing fresh talent for a year. A couple of youngsters may miss out on the ICC event in June if the senior professionals are in the scheme of things.
The selectors perhaps took the safe call to mix experience with youth as Hardik Pandya, who was leading the revamped Indian T20I side, has been absent due to an ankle injury. The all-rounder led the team in 16 T20Is, winning 10.
Pandya could have achieved more if not for injuries. He missed the five-match T20I series against Australia at home, the three-match T20I series in South Africa and the current one against the Afghans. The leadership baton kept getting passed; Jasprit Bumrah, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Suryakumar Yadav have been captains besides KL Rahul. Yadav guided India to a 4-1 series win against the Aussies. He even impressed in South Africa before injuring his ankle.
Pandya will lead Mumbai Indians in the IPL but is not a favourite to lead the Indian T20I team at present.
Experience and youth
Former BCCI chief selector M.S.K. Prasad knew Sharma and Kohli would be back in T20Is. "I think it is obvious they would return to the side. There were no second thoughts in my mind. The selectors wanted them to focus more on the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship in 2023. At that time, they did not play T20Is. That was right. Now that we have another T20 World Cup coming up, they are back in the side," Prasad tells moneycontrol.com.
Prasad batted for the combination of experience and youth. "T20 cricket requires this sort of a combination. The youth can play their fearless brand of cricket under experienced seniors. We have seen how Rohit has played a certain brand of cricket by giving explosive starts in the ODI World Cup," he adds.
Devang Gandhi, a national selector in Prasad's panel till 2020-21, echoed his former colleague. "Experience always matters. The fact that we have that is a big plus. The blend of youth and experience can be potent," he says.
The former India batter reasoned there is no point debating how Sharma and Kohli are blocking a youngster's berth. "The youngsters have to keep persevering and keep performing. That is the only way. When you have people like Rohit and Virat at the top, the guys need to wait," adds Gandhi.
How India fared without Sharma, Kohli
India played 25 T20Is without Sharma and Kohli and recorded a win percentage of 68.75, almost the same as when they were around. The duo played 96 games together for India, winning 64 and losing 30 with a win percentage of 68.08.
The numbers are better when playing away from home. The Men in Blue have a win percentage of 73.77 overseas with Sharma and Kohli (45 wins in 63 outings), and 65.38 without them though there have been only 14 matches in their absence.
The next T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States of America, will need the brand of Sharma and Kohli for marketing reasons. They are still the leading run-getters in T20Is with 3,853 and 4,008 runs, respectively.
What happens if Rishabh Pant is fit?
Among the youngsters, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been on a break and has suddenly fallen off the radar. Sanju Samson's ODI hundred in South Africa made matters worse. Even Jitesh Sharma continued to impress with the bat in the blue jersey.
There is still no clarity on Rishabh Pant's full recovery. The dashing wicketkeeper-batter has been out of cricket since early 2023 after meeting with a horrific car accident. After his presence at the IPL auctions in December, one can expect him back from the T20 league. If Pant lights up the IPL box office, he will be back in the reckoning. Gandhi strongly believes that the BCCI "would want Pant to be fit as early as possible."
"It depends on how he shapes up during the IPL. It is not easy to come back after a long injury layoff, especially the injuries he had (after the accident). It depends where he stands physically and mentally. The kind of talent that he is, he can be a big addition to the India squad for the T20 World Cup," he adds.
Sharma, Kohli and Pant are a dream team.
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