Cricket fans, get ready for some exciting news - former opener Gautam Gambhir believes that Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be key players in the team's quest for victory at the Men's ODI World Cup later this year! Both Kohli and Rohit have proven their skills on the field time and time again, with Kohli having been part of the winning squad in the 2011 World Cup and Rohit being the leading run-getter in the 2019 ODI World Cup. These experienced players will be back in action for India's upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting on January 10th in Guwahati.
Gambhir emphasized the importance of having a diverse team, with players who can adapt to different roles and approaches. He believes that having a mix of players, including those who can anchor their innings and excel at playing spin, will be crucial in the World Cup. "I always feel that when we talk about this new approach, which India always talks about, the template and stuff, you've got to identify players who can adapt those roles or that template very easily," Gambhir said on the 'Road to World Cup Glory' show on Star Sports. "Some people just cannot adapt to that template so why push them to play in a certain way which doesn't come naturally to them. For me, I think identifying players and at the same time getting the right mix is very important, rather than thinking that we have to play at a certain template so we got to select all the 15 with a similar mindset or with a similar template."
The change in rules in ODIs has also had an impact on the game. Gambhir noted that there is less opportunity for fast bowlers to get reverse swing and for finger spinners to find purchase. This makes the role of different players even more important in achieving victory. "During that time we had only one new ball, now we've got two new balls with five fielders inside. So, the role of a part timer has gone out of the window. The reverse swings, you don't see enough reverse swings anymore, you don't see enough purchase for the finger spinners as well," he said.
India is gearing up for a busy season, with three ODIs against Sri Lanka followed by three matches each against New Zealand and Australia. These high-stakes matches will provide the perfect opportunity for Kohli, Rohit, and the rest of the Indian team to showcase their skills and work towards victory at the World Cup. Cricket fans won't want to miss out on any of the action!