Harbhajan Singh Says BCCI Should Discuss T20I Plans With Virat Kohli

The Board of Control for Cricket in India made it clear post the T20 World Cup 2022 that they will now look forward to building a new team. Ever since India’s semi-finals loss, senior players including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are no longer picked in the T20I team. While it is understandable that age and fitness could be a major factors in the selection of the team, Harbhajan Singh believes Virat Kohli deserves better.

Virat Kohli has been the Indian team’s backbone for a long time now. Just like any other player, he too underwent a purple patch but eventually came over it. The 2.0 version of Virat Kohli came to the limelight in Asia Cup after his knocks against Pakistan and then his maiden T20I century against Afghanistan. Moreover, when experts were of the opinion that the senior batter should be dropped from the T20 World Cup squad, not only did he win the game versus Pakistan single-handedly but also finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer.

I don’t think he (Virat Kohli) can be sidelined on the basis of form: Harbhajan Singh

As per the reports, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were then informed that they won’t be into consideration for the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, Harbhajan Singh has now demanded clarity on the future of Virat Kohli in the T20 team. Continuing his stellar international form, Virat Kohli has been top-notch in the ongoing IPL too. Harbhajan Singh added that the selectors cannot rule out the former Indian captain on the basis of his form. He suggested that they should discuss the plans with him.

“See, I don’t know what selectors have in their minds and what they want to do. But if we don’t win big tournaments like the World Cup, there always is pressure and the senior players bear the brunt of it. But as far as Kohli is concerned, I don’t think he can be sidelined on the basis of form. They shouldn’t be informed after a decision is made. We were sidelined first and then got to know through newspapers. It shouldn’t happen to Kohli. A player should be given respect – be it Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, or whoever else,” Harbhajan Singh said.