'Will have to sit out...': Manjrekar warns BCCI about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the T20 WC

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup warm-up match between Bangladesh and India on Sat, 1 Jun at 8:00 pm in Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is set to showcase an electrifying clash as Bangladesh faces off against India's star-studded squad, featuring the likes of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah. This match serves as a crucial preparatory fixture for both teams as they gear up for the highly anticipated T20 World Cup, promising an action-packed encounter and offering fans a glimpse of the excitement to come in the tournament.

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Sanjay Manjrekar made a huge statement about India’s top batting order at the T20 World Cup 2024

With co-hosts USA playing Canada on Sunday, the T20 World Cup gets underway. India will play a warm-up game against Bangladesh on Saturday, their first competitive game since arriving at their training camp in New York. Rohit Sharma leads the Indian team; he and Virat Kohli made their comeback to Twenty20 International cricket earlier this year following their previous involvement in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss.

IPL 2024 saw differing degrees of success for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Yashasvi Jaiswal, meantime, is expected to be a major contributor to India's top order throughout the competition, maybe batting at number three or teaming with Rohit at the top. But former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar says Jaiswal might not be in the starting lineup at all since India would probably start with Rohit and Kohli, a combination Manjrekar believes is less than optimal for the team's plan.

Speaking on star Sports Sanjay Majrekar said: 

“Ideally, I would not have gone that way,”

 "I would have stuck with a slightly younger core set of players. But the selectors have committed themselves to the icons, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

"Now that they are in the squad, it is impossible to have Virat Kohli batting at number 3, because then you don't get the full value of Virat. And Rohit Sharma, as well, has to open. So, India, in a way, have forced themselves to have only one kind of combination, two right-handers. Unfortunately, Jaiswal will have to sit out," 

Also Read: Ex-India cricketer points out decision that may backfire in T20 WC

Manjrekar stated that the Indian selectors have depended on seniority and experience, which he feels has not been helpful for India in prior tournaments. He added: 

“I would have gone completely with a new lot; then, you would have had a lot more flair and it would be something different. India have trusted the seniors, a move that hasn't worked over the years. Let's hope it works this time,” 

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had somewhat different IPL experiences in 2024. Kohli took a far more aggressive tack than in prior seasons, scoring 741 runs in 15 games. This change produced his greatest strike rate of his IPL career—154.69—and just the second time he has ever had a season strike rate above 145. As RCB sprang to six straight victories to clinch a playoff position, Kohli struck five half-centuries and a century to become the tournament's top scorer.

By comparison, Rohit Sharma scored 417 runs at an average of 32.08 and a strike rate of 150.00, including a century and a half-century. In his IPL career, this was also Rohit's greatest strike rate. Despite his best efforts, MI faltered, winning only four of its fourteen games and placing last in the league.