“Depends on what your game plans are”

Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis has shared his thoughts on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli making a comeback to the Indian T20I squad ahead of the T20 World Cup which will be held in June. The Proteas legend opined that while experience is important, game plans also play a decisive factor in team selection.

Both Rohit and Kohli have been picked in the Indian team for the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan. While the latter missed the opening match of the series in Mohali due to personal reasons, Rohit was out for a duck. Before the Afghanistan series, the senior batters last featured in the T20 format for India during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

Speaking to ANI, Kallis opened up on Rohit and Kohli’s T20I comeback in the World Cup year and commented:

“I think there has to be a balance between the two. It depends on how you want to go in the tournament and what your game plans are. Experience has a big role for sure.”

The 48-year-old described the recently-concluded multi-format India-South Africa series as a great one with two great sides giving their best. He, however, expressed disappointment over the pitch that was used for the second Test in Cape Town.

“It is sad that it went that way. You want two quality sides to playing on a good surface. A little disappointing but both sides had to play on that surface and India outplayed SA on a tough surface,” Kallis said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) gave an “unsatisfactory” rating to the Newlands surface, which produced the shortest Test in history, lasting only 642 balls.

“It is good that the game is growing” – Kallis on T20 World Cup being played in the USA

The 2024 T20 World Cup will be played in the West Indies and the United States. Kallis is pleased that some of the matches of the ICC event will be played in the US. Speaking about the same, he said:

“It is good that the game is growing and every time we go to new countries. Hopefully, America catches up with the game.”

On whether SA20 is a good platform for players to stake a claim for a place in the national T20I team for the World Cup, he told ANI:

“It (T20 World Cup) is a big tournament for a lot of guys. They are putting their hands up and getting their spots on the SA side, as well as learning from other international players.”

The 2024 T20 World Cup will be played in the West Indies and the US from June 1 to June 29.