IND vs SL: "In This World Cup, His Role Is Very Important"

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India will host the 13th edition of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 in October and November and will be the first ODI tournament to be held entirely in India. India partially hosted in 1987, 1996, and 2011. Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes that senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should take the anchor role, with the youngsters playing around them.

With the 2023 ODI World Cup just nine months away, Team India’s main focus is on selecting the best lineup and defining specific roles for each player leading into the event. Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is the most experienced player for Team India and will play his fourth ODI World Cup. Kohli made his ODI World Cup debut in 2011, when India won their second championship.

Former Indian opener and top scorer for India in the final of the 2011 edition, Gautam Gambhir believes that Virat Kohli should play as an anchor. The 41-year-old noted that Kohli’s importance will increase as the squad includes young players who are yet to feature in the 50-over World Cup, including Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav.

“50 over format is the only format where you need an anchor. You really don’t need someone to anchor the innings in T20 cricket. And Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s experience will be very very important,” Gautam Gambhir told Star Sports in an interaction.

“If you have all these impact players and you pick them like Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, let’s not forget that they will be playing their first World Cup and that’s why Virat and Rohit’s experience will be very very important. Now, it needs to be seen how the whole batting line up revolves around Virat Kohli or around Rohit Sharma. I personally feel in this World Cup, Virat Kohli’s role is very important,” he added.

Virat Kohli struggled with the bat during his long lean patch and did not score a hundred in the 50-over format for three years. However, he successfully turned things around with back-to-back centuries, scoring 113 runs against Bangladesh and another century in the first ODI against Sri Lanka.

Also read: IND vs SL: “Should Stick With Him, Which Means Ishan Kishan Does Not Play” – Aakash Chopra Says Team Management Shouldn’t Touch KL Rahul